Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner LIVE: China Open result and final score from blockbuster Beijing Open final
Alcaraz won his first title since Wimbledon as he ended Sinner’s winning streak with a 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3) victory in Beijing
Carlos Alcaraz took the final seven points in row to win a thrilling deciding tiebreak and beat young rival Jannik Sinner, claiming the China Open title while snapping the World No 1’s 15-match winning streak.
Alcaraz improved his head-to-head with Sinner to 6-4 with his third victory against the Italian in a row, coming from behind to win 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3) in three hours and 21 minutes in a blockuster Beijing final.
Alcaraz, himself with an eight-match win streak coming into the final, made the better start and served for the first set at 5-3. But Sinner dug in and broke the Spaniard to stay alive. Sinner saved three set points, including two in the tiebreak, as he upped his level.
Sinner and Alcaraz saved break points midway through the second set - Alcaraz doing so during an epic 15-minute game, which proved crucial as he levelled at a one-set all. Incredible defence from Alcaraz saw the 21-year-old force the decider.
And the momentum continued into the third set as Alcaraz found the early breakthrough. Sinner resisted the double-break and Alcaraz failed to serve it out as the Italian broke back and forced a match tiebreak.
Alcaraz was 3-0 down in the tiebreak, with Sinner about to serve, before the Spaniard produced a stunning fightback fuelled by attacking tennis to win the next seven points and claim his fourth title of the season and his first since Wimbledon.
Follow live updates and the latest score from Beijing as Alcaraz and Sinner meet in the final of the China Open
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 4-2 Jannik Sinner*
Sinner does not look happy with himself on the opening point as he misses on the backhand. Alcaraz takes full advantage, with a couple of big forehand blows landing to see him through to 40-15.
An ACE from Alcaraz earns the Spaniard a hold. Two games needed, but are we set for any more twists and turns?
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 3-2 Jannik Sinner
How about this level from Alcaraz?! Sinner may have dipped, but Alcaraz is on the charge. He blasts the return to bring up two break points and the chance for the double break.
Sinner is in trouble and knows it. He saves the first with an ace out wide, then the second as Alcaraz nets on the backhand.
This is a must-hold game. Drop shot into the net from Alcaraz! But Alcaraz then steps in and directs the backhand return up the line for a winner.
Sinner stops the run. Alcaraz pushes wide on the backhand, and Sinner knows he’s escaped with that .
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 3-1 Jannik Sinner*
Sinner is not looking as comfortable now. The Italian limps a drop shot into the net and then Alcaraz steps in to power a forehand winner, moving to 40-0. Sinner returns into the net as Alcaraz consolidates the break.
Make that six of the last seven games since Alcaraz trailed 3-4 in the second.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 2-1 Jannik Sinner - Alcaraz breaks!
Alcaraz launches into a huge forehand winner, and then dials up the pressure on Sinner on the defensive side! Alcaraz makes the sprints from side to side look so effortless, and he forces Sinner into the miss.
Two break points for Alcaraz. Sinner saves the first, in style, with an Alcaraz-style inside out drop shot, then putting away the volley.
Can he save the second too? Wild return from Alcaraz! He went big on that, but comes up short. Alcaraz corrects humself on deuce, finding the baseline.
And on the third break point, Alcaraz takes his chance! He ramps up the power on the forehand and finds a sweet strike, that Sinner can’t return. He takes the early breakthrough, and has now won five of the last six games.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 1-1 Jannik Sinner*
The intensity of the rallies really went up a level midway through the second set. Let’s hope it continues into the decider, which could easily hit the three-hour mark
Sinner serves first and jumps out to 40-0 to get us going. Alcaraz finds a lovely disguised drop shot. Alcaraz then goes long on the backhand.
The 21-year-old then knocks out a quick hold of serve to love, much like the start of the second set so far.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 Jannik Sinner - Alcaraz wins second set!
POINT! This is so good from Alcaraz and Sinner, but it’s the Spaniard in charge! He wins a brilliant, side-to-side exchange before directing the forehand winner.
ACE! Three set points for Alcaraz! He was broken serving for the first set, and is looking to avoid a repeat of that here.
Sinner nets. Alcaraz levels! An epic fightback from two break points down at 4-3. Two hours and seven minutes in, we’re heading for a decider!
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 5-4 Jannik Sinner - Alcaraz breaks!
How key was that last game? This could tell us. Alcaraz immediately jumps into a 0-30 lead on the Sinner serve, and attacks the second serve but nets!
POINT! Defence from Alcaraz! He stays alive and retrieves a smash from Sinner, putting up a lob that stays in, before Sinner nets!
Two break points. Sinner, incredibly, saves another. But he can’t save both! Alcaraz breaks as Sinner fires wide on the forehand!
What a turnaround! Alcaraz will serve for the second set.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 4-4 Jannik Sinner*
POINT! Stunning from Sinner to pick up a running forehand from Alcaraz that scorched the baseline, before turning it around and firing the forehand winner.
What a game this is, but Alcaraz works his way back to game point as he closes the net. Alcaraz turns to serve and volley but misses with Sinner beaten!
Still Alcaraz can’t get over the line, as he misses on the forehand. This is a 13-minute game already, and looks absolutely crucial.
Awesome from Alcaraz - another brilliantly constructed point, putting away the volley on the slide - but he again can’t take game point.
ACE from Alcaraz! Surely this time? YES! Another ace! Alcaraz holds his arms to the sky. He holds an epic 15-minute, eight-deuce game, saving two break points in the process.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 3-4 Jannik Sinner
A circus-style backhand lob from Alcaraz, who then somehow wins the backhand exchange after Sinner came into the net.
Solid serve out wide from Alcaraz, it gives him 40-15.
But from nowhere, Sinner gets back to deuce. Consecutive backhand errors from Alcaraz, when he had the chance to get the hold, brings the Italian back into it.
Sinner looks away in frustration after a backhand drifts out, with Alcaraz scrambling. Alcaraz comes into the net, but Sinner finds the lob! Brilliant dip! On we go.
Error from Alcaraz and now break point for Sinner! What a turnaround in this game. ACE from Alcaraz! Just his second of the match and he needed it.
Long from Alcaraz on deuce, as another error costs him. Second break point for Sinner. But he can’t find the return!
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 3-4 Jannik Sinner
Oh that’s awesome from Alcaraz. First he finds the backhand pass down the line. Then he fakes a drop shot to push a backhand attack onto the baseline.
15-30, and Alcaraz attacks the Sinner second serve! Another backhand winner down the line, taken early, and it gives Alcaraz two break points.
Sinner saves the first with a one-two strike, landing the forehand winner crosscourt. And Sinner saves the second too! A big second serve, as Alcaraz then pushes the backhand wide.
Stunning hold again from Sinner. He is looking so hard to beat right now, and is capable of just finding his level with it counts. He defies Alcaraz again.
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