Alcaraz passes Medvedev SF test in Beijing

Carlos Alcaraz’s red-hot run of hard-court form shows no sign of slowing down at the China Open.

The Spaniard on Tuesday overcame Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3 to reach the final at the ATP 500 in Beijing. Alcaraz prevailed in a high-quality first set that featured five breaks of serve before accelerating past Medvedev in the second to wrap an 88-minute semi-final triumph.

“I think we both started the match pretty well,” said Alcaraz after extending his winning streak to eight tour-level matches. “It was a little bit unusual, with serve being broken many times in the first set. I broke his serve [for 3-2] and then in the next game, I don’t know what happened to me. I probably lost focus a little bit, missed a few first serves that against Daniil on a hard court is a really important weapon. You have to put good first serves in to put yourself in the position to attack.

“I’m really happy that I didn’t lose my focus too long in the first set. I recovered it as soon as I got broken, and I’m really happy that at the end of the set I was able to play really good tennis in the return game and then serving at 6-5. I did a really good game. After that, once you are one set up, it’s a little bit easier, playing against Daniil with more confidence.”

Statement in Beijing ?@carlosalcaraz outclasses Medvedev to reach his fifth tour-level final this season.@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/ow9zdMozd5

Medvedev’s second-set efforts appeared to be undermined by an issue with his hip, for which he received treatment from the physio at 2-3 and 3-4. Yet the No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings continued to compete well after both changeovers.

“Sometimes you think, ‘OK, it’s done’, but it’s not done. You have to keep fighting," reflected Alcaraz. "You have to keep playing the same way that you were playing before and just forget about the opponent. You should focus on yourself and your tennis, so that’s what I tried to do. I was still playing the same way I had played until that point in the match. I didn’t lose the focus in that moment, so I’m really happy that I kept pushing.”

Alcaraz completed his win having converted five of 11 break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He is the third player to reach five tour-level finals this season, after World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Casper Ruud.

After improving his Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Medvedev to 6-2, Alcaraz set a championship-match clash against top seed Sinner or home wild card Buyunchaokete in the Chinese capital. If Sinner reaches the final, it would represent a rematch of their 2023 Beijing semi-final, which the Italian won in straight sets en route to the title.

With his semi-final victory, Alcaraz also kept up his bid to haul in Sinner in the race to become ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. Currently second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, the Spaniard currently trails Sinner by 2,860 points, although the World No. 1 can extend his lead further by defeating Buyunchaokete later on Tuesday.

Since his disappointing second-round loss to Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open, Alcaraz has gone unbeaten in singles across the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage, Laver Cup and China Open. The 21-year-old is chasing his first tour-level title since Wimbledon in July. Alcaraz has also triumphed at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells and Roland Garros this season.

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