Carlos Alcaraz Edges Jannik Sinner in Thrilling Final

Carlos Alcaraz staged a remarkable comeback to defeat world number one Jannik Sinner in a thrilling China Open final, winning 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). At just 21 years old, Alcaraz has now triumphed in their last three meetings and secured his fourth ATP Tour title of the year, bringing his career total to 16. He praised Sinner’s high level of play, acknowledging the Italian as the best player in the world.

“I had my chances in the first set and didn’t take them. In general, I’m proud of how I managed the match,” Carlos Alcaraz remarked. Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Dan Evans faced an early exit at the Shanghai Masters, losing in the first round despite a strong start. The 34-year-old forced a deciding set against Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild but ultimately lost in a tie-break, finishing the match 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3).

Alcaraz’s victory marks a significant turnaround after a disappointing second-round exit at the US Open as he has now won nine consecutive matches including a key role in Team Europe’s Laver Cup win. The match showcased the fierce rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner with their head-to-head record now at 6-4 in Alcaraz’s favor.

Despite Sinner’s strong performance throughout 2024 including victories in six previous finals, he struggled to maintain momentum in the decisive moments.  After trailing 4-2 in the final set, he fought back to force a tie-break but ultimately lost control as Alcaraz surged ahead with seven consecutive points to secure the win.

In a separate development, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced its appeal against the decision to clear Sinner of blame after he tested positive for a banned substance earlier this year. World number four Novak Djokovic criticized the inconsistencies in the tennis anti-doping system and called for a swift resolution to the matter.