Published: 09:23, October 2, 2024
Jannik Sinner-Carlos Alcaraz set for Beijing blockbuster
By Reuters
Italy's Jannik Sinner returns the ball during the China Open tennis tournament men's singles semi-final match against China's Bu Yunchaokete, at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Oct 1, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

World No 1 Jannik Sinner and No 3 Carlos Alcaraz will clash in Wednesday's China Open final in Beijing.

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The top-seeded Sinner advanced with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over home favorite Bu Yunchaokete and No 2 seed Alcaraz held off No 3 Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3 in Tuesday's semifinals.

China's Bu Yunchaokete returns the ball during the China Open tennis tournament men's singles semi-final match against Italy's Jannik Sinner, at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Oct 1, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

Sinner struck 11 aces and saved all three break points in the 2-hour, 5-minute match. The Italian recorded twice as many winners (31-15) and recorded the only service break to go up 4-2 in the first set.

READ MORE: Alcaraz, Medvedev to meet in semifinal, Paolini out at China Open

Sinner, the defending champion, brings a 15-match winning streak into the showdown with Spain's Alcaraz, who needed only 88 minutes to defeat Russia's Medvedev. Alcaraz has a 5-4 lead in his series with Sinner.

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain returns a shot from Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their men's singles semi-final match for the China Open tennis tournament held at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Oct 1, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

Japan Open

Frenchman Arthur Fils saved a championship point during the second-set tiebreak and defeated countryman Ugo Humbert 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-3 to capture his third career title in Tokyo.

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The unseeded Fils defeated four top-20 opponents during his championship run: No 1 seed Taylor Fritz, defending champion Ben Shelton, Holger Rune of Denmark and Humbert.

Arthur Fils of France plays a backhand return against his compatriot Ugo Humbert during their men's singles final match at the Japan Open tennis tournament on Oct 1, 2024, at Ariake Coliseum, in Tokyo, Japan. (PHOTO / AP)

In a match that lasted just over 3 hours, Fils fired 10 aces and won 80 percent (44 of 55) of the points on his first serve. He finished with four more winners (38-34) and five fewer unforced errors (48-53) than Humbert.

The momentum-shifting moment came in the tiebreak. Trailing 5-6, Fils delivered a backhand passing shot for the first of three straight points to level the match.