The Murcian, in a bad match, cannot beat the Italian in the semifinals of the ATP 500 in Beijing (7-6 and 6-1)
Carlos Alcaraz said goodbye to Beijing ATP 500 in a bad game against the Italian Jannik Sinner who lost in just two sets. The Murcian, who at no time showed the tennis of the three previous matches played in Beijing, lost the first round in sudden death and in the second he was only able to make a game of his rival (7-6 and 6-1) . In this way, the world number 2 said goodbye in the semifinals, blurred and crestfallen, surrendering to a rival who will play the final this Wednesday against the Russian Daniil Medvedev, who defeated the German Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz started the game very energized. In the first game he broke Sinner and the second game was easily won with his serve. In the third he had two balls for 3-0, but the Italian reacted (2-1) and in the fourth, where the Murcian lost his consistency, he returned the break to equalize the first set (2-2 ). The game continued like a roller coaster. He overcame the world number 2 that small moment of weakness experienced in the fourth game and regained the initiative, achieving another break (3-2). But the response from his rival was forceful: another break leaving Alcaraz blank (3-3). From that moment on, and following the now classic script of the duels between these two players of the new generation, both secured their service in games with high intensity and spectacular points.
sudden death key
Sudden death occurred, the eighth time in six games that El Palmar and San Cándido faced this situation. The start was bad for Alcaraz, who conceded a ‘mini break’ in the second point, but there was plenty of room for reaction. The Italian reached a disturbing 1-4. But the situation worsened after an error by the Murcian (2-5 and Sinner’s serve). He did not take advantage of the two service points of the transalpine and gave life to his opponent (4-5), who then handed him the set after hitting a ball into the net and connecting a great return to take the first point of the match.
Crisis in the second set
The Spaniard started the second round with very bad feelings. He lost the first game with his serve and in the second he had two break balls that he did not take advantage of. He reacted in the third, leaving Sinner blank, but in the fourth he ‘threw’ three more breaking balls (1-3) and in the fifth the Italian made another break to a completely blurred Alcaraz, who was barely able to connect his right throughout the match and that he made too many errors (1-4). That break was confirmed with the service of a grown Sinner (1-5), who did not show the fatigue accumulated in the previous rounds, where his rivals took him to extreme situations. All that was left was the epic, which the Murcian has resorted to on other occasions, but it was not the day, as was evident at a point where Sinner reached a drop-off and Juan Carlos Ferrero’s pupil, with all the clue for him , sent a balloon out. It was the epilogue of a bad match where the Italian came out stronger and with the possibility of reaching number 4 in the world if he beats Medvedev in the final.
Shanghai, the next challenge
The only positive reading for Alcaraz is that he will have one more day of rest to face the Shanghai Masters 1,000, where he will debut on Friday or Saturday in the second round. The debut will be against the winner of the duel that will face the Portuguese Nuno Borges (86 ATP) and the Frenchman Gregorie Barrere (63), and in third place they will be able to meet the Frenchman Alexandre Muller (80) or the British Daniel Evans (33) on the way. . From the round of 16 onwards, more important rivals arrive, such as the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (19), the Russian Karen Khachanov (14), the Australian Aleksandar Vukic (50) and the Spanish Roberto Carballés (61).
The Americans Taylor Fritz (8) and Frances Tiafoe (11) are the tennis players with the best ranking who can be measured in the quarterfinals, where the Chilean Nicolas Jarry (23) and the Czech Jiri Lehecka (29) also appear as threats. ).
Stefanos Tsitsipas (5), Andrey Rublev (6) and Cameron Norrie (16), among others, are the players who are on the horizon for the semifinals of the penultimate Masters 1,000 of the season, where the Murcian wants to achieve victory to stalk Novak Djokovic’s lead.
The Rolex Masters Shanghai is held at the spectacular Qizhong Tennis Center complex.