Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner LIVE: China Open latest score and updates from blockbuster Beijing final
Alcaraz and Sinner are meeting in a final for the first time since 2022, having split the grand slams this season
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner do battle in a blockbuster China Open final and a clash between the two best players in the world this year.
World No 1 Sinner, 23 won the Australian Open and US Open for his first grand slam titles this season but in between Alcaraz, 21, lifted the French Open and Wimbledon titles. Alcaraz defeated Sinner in five sets in the Roland Garros semi-final, in what was the last meeting of the two young rivals.
This will be the 10th match between the Italian and Spaniard, and their first final since 2022 after five consecutive clashes in semi-finals. Sinner won the China Open last year and is looking to defend his crown, with Alcaraz trying to close the gap to World No 1 over the remainder of the season.
Off the court, Sinner continues to play amid his anti-doping controversy, which has taken a fresh twist since the start of Beijing. Sinner, though, has racked up 15 wins in a row, while Alcaraz has won eight in a row since his shock defeat in the US Open second round.
Follow live updates and the latest score from Beijing as Alcaraz and Sinner meet in the final of the China Open
Carlos Alcaraz 6-6 Jannik Sinner - TIEBREAK!
A rare error, and a chance now for Alcaraz as Sinner slumps a forehand into the net from the baseline. 4-3 Alcaraz with two serves to come.
What defence from Sinner! Incredible. Looked a certain point for Alcaraz, but he digs out the backhand. Alcaraz nets from down low! 4-4.
Sinner nets on the forehand from wide. 5-4 Alcaraz with Sinner to serve next.
Magic from Alcaraz! Sinner can’t find the corner with the forehand and Alcaraz takes aim on the backhand. he cracks one crosscourt. 6-4 and two set points.
ACE frrom Sinner. Another set point to come, with Alcaraz to serve.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-6 Jannik Sinner - TIEBREAK!
Sinner finds his best level of the match so far and forces Alcaraz into his very best defence to run from side to side. It’s not good enough, as Sinner swats the winner. A big serve out wide and Sinner leads 2-1 Sinner.
Amazing from Alcaraz! Under high pressure he turns to the inside-out dropshot on the forehand. Sublime. A second brilliant point from Alcaraz in a row. He puts away the drop-volley, with lovely side-spin. 3-2 Alcaraz.
Sinner with a huge one-two punch. Quality tennis from both in this tiebreak. 3-3.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-6 Jannik Sinner - TIEBREAK!
Sinner’s tiebreak record this year: 21-6
Alcaraz’s tiebreak record this year: 14-10
Carlos Alcaraz 6-6 Jannik Sinner - TIEBREAK!
Woah! A big miss from Sinner at the net in the opening point of the 12th game. The Italian swipes at the ball in frustration.
Alcaraz pushes long on the forehand and misses by a big margin. But a double-fault from Sinner means Alcaraz is now just two points away...
Alcaraz looks up to the sky as his backhand drifts long, a second miss on a routine shot from the Spaniard in this game.
30-30. Would you believe it! A second double fault from Sinner! It brings up a set point for Alcaraz.
Sinner saves! Lovely hands at the net from the Italian, and Alcaraz can’t reach it before the second bounce.
Deuce... Sinner finds two first serves and survives to make it to the tie-break, swatting away the forehand winner.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-5 Jannik Sinner*
Alcaraz smothers the net and stops the run at three games, putting away a couple of volleys on his way to getting a hold.
Are we heading for a tie-break? Sinner’s record this year is very good (21-6), and I reckon Alcaraz’s isn’t too bad either.
*Carlos Alcaraz 5-5 Jannik Sinner
That was crazy from Sinner. He came alive when he needed to and produced a much better level in the rallies, even if Alcaraz’s first serve went missing on the key points.
He still needs to hold here. Alcaraz had a look at the Sinner serve on 0-15 but clipped the net-cord with the backhand. Another miss from Alcaraz on the backhand.
Alcaraz attacked the Sinner backhand on game point but the Italian is reading his opponent better now. Alcaraz pushes wide.
Three games in a row for Sinner and we’re level again.
Carlos Alcaraz 5-4 Jannik Sinner* - Sinner breaks!
Solid from Sinner on the baseline. This time Alcaraz is forced ito the miss as he pushes wide on the backhand.
But the response is superb - Alcaraz firing from the hip and he unloads on the inside-out forehand winner.
A lovely wide serve chops up Sinner, and the Italian clings on as he return clips the line.
Sinner makes the most of it and produces a lovely angle on the forehand winner. 30-30.
Return winner from Sinner! Alcaraz’s second serve sat up, and he attacked on the forehand crosscourt.
Break point: Sinner locks in and finds amazing depth to the baseline. Alcaraz nets!
Sinner breaks back and stays alive in the set!
*Carlos Alcaraz 5-3 Jannik Sinner
Sinner finds some serving and his first ace. A fortunate net-cord helps him to the hold and forces Alcaraz to serve it out with 40 minutes on the match clock.
Sinner takes the hold with a forehand winner - he needs more of that with Alcaraz taking such an aggressive approach.
Carlos Alcaraz 5-2 Jannik Sinner*
Alcaraz attacks the net on the opening point and then continues to target the Sinner backhand. The Italian actually read this one, but fired wide on the forehand.
And Alcaraz continues to move closer to the set. A brilliant point, but Alcaraz defends superbly and Sinner is forced into another messy error.
He’d done enough to win the point but Alcaraz moved so well across the baseline. He holds to love and moves a game away.
*Carlos Alcaraz 4-2 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz makes a wonderful start, rushing into the net after landing a lovely volley inside the baseline on the opening point. He’s all over Sinner right now.
How Sinner needed a hold. He survives another Alcaraz attack by finding a clever backhand before Alcaraz pushes long on the forehand.
Then, a rare first serve pushes Alcaraz wide onto his backhand. The Spaniard nets.
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