Tennis News

Medvedev told Alcaraz this hilarious joke after their Beijing SF…

After Carlos Alcaraz defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets on Tuesday evening in the China Open semi-finals, something funny happened.

Medvedev, who had lost, covered his mouth and began whispering to Alcaraz. The 28-year-old gestured to his chest, then his hair. Alcaraz found it hilarious and cracked up.

“I told Carlos next match I’m going to paint my hair blond and put ‘Botic’ here. Maybe this can help,” Medvedev later said. “Today I played pretty well. I don’t see how I could beat him today… Next match I need to try something. Maybe throw him off a little bit. But it’s a joke, of course.”

Medvedev referenced Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, who stunned Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open. The Spaniard has not lost a set en route to the Beijing final.

Although Medvedev fell short to Alcaraz in the ATP 500 semi-final, he was positive about his efforts in Beijing. The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings defeated Gael Monfils, Adrian Mandarin and Flavio Cobolli.

“The hard-court season, after the Olympic Games, et cetera, was not perfect for me. US Open was a bit better. Then Laver Cup was two tough losses. Okay, it was third-set tie-break,” Medvedev said. “Coming here, I was not feeling great in confidence, in the approach to my tennis. I won three great matches, playing good against three good players in two sets. I played very good against Carlos.”

Now Medvedev will turn his attention to the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he will try to earn his first title of the season. The fifth seed will face Thiago Seyboth Wild or qualifier Daniel Evans in his opening match.

“I’m looking forward to Shanghai to try to continue this positive dynamic,” Medvedev said. “That’s what I’m looking for.”

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Sinner vs Alcaraz: A blockbuster Beijing final

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are 23 and 21, respectively. But they do not play like it, comport themselves like people that age, nor are they viewed as “young”.

Both have already bloomed into full-blown superstars and are poised to lead the sport both at the present and into the future. Showdowns between the pair are not simply tennis matches. They are events, spectacles with the buildup of a heavyweight boxing fight, full of anticipation. Their clash in the final of the China Open on Wednesday will be no different.

Alcaraz will take a 5-4 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series into the championship match of the ATP 500. But anything can happen as the two meet for the second consecutive year in Beijing. The only guarantee is excitement.

“It’s going to be a tough match. We know each other very well now, but every match is different, so the situation on the court is also a bit different than it was the last two matches. But let’s see,” Sinner said after his semi-final win against Buyunchaokete. “I’m happy to be here again in the final.”

Both men enter the clash on extended winning streaks. Sinner has emerged victorious from 15 consecutive matches and Alcaraz has won eight in a row.

Sinner is in first in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin by a wide margin, leading second-placed Alcaraz by 2,990 points. The 23-year-old is in great position to become the first Italian to earn ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours. He owns a 59-6 record compared to Alcaraz’s 47-9 mark, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

“My season is going very, very good and playing finals is always a great moment,” Sinner said. “I just hope tomorrow is going to be a good match from both of us.”

Watch Beijing SF Highlights:

Alcaraz has won their two meetings this year — a three-setter at Indian Wells and a five-setter at Roland Garros — and claimed major trophies at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Sinner, who leads the Tour with six titles in 2024, triumphed at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

It could come down to who is more opportunistic. Alcaraz has been more dominant in Beijing, reaching the final without dropping a set. However, both men have lost serve just three times, with Sinner saving 81 per cent of the break points he has faced (13/16) compared to 57 per cent for Alcaraz (4/7).

People compare a big showdown in sport to a clash between an unstoppable force and an immovable object. But that insinuates one breaks down the other. Instead, Sinner and Alcaraz are like dance partners, bringing out the best in one another to produce some of the best tennis in recent memory.

“Every time we play against [each other], it’s a good match,” Sinner said after defeating Alcaraz in Beijing last year en route to the semi-finals. “We try to play on our limits.”

Both are incredible shotmakers who are capable of turning around a point at any moment. Sinner is a bit more steady in that regard, while Alcaraz is slightly more dynamic with his speed and court coverage.

Do not be surprised when they smile at one another after a sensational point. The Sinner-Alcaraz Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry is the opposite of contentious. They are good friends, who even practised together in Villena last December at Juan Carlos Ferrero’s eponymous academy.

That is not to say that they cross their fingers in the hope of facing off. Alcaraz spoke to the media in Beijing after winning the tournament’s first semi-final against Daniil Medvedev. Who did he want to face, Sinner or Buyunchaokete?

“Obviously Bu. I’m not going to lie,” Alcaraz said, cracking a smile. “Jannik is the best player in the world right now.”

But both men will want the Beijing title badly. Sinner is trying to join Novak Djokovic as just the second man to successfully defend the China Open title. Alcaraz is attempting to become just the fourth man to claim the trophy without dropping a set (Marat Safin, Djokovic 3x and Andy Murray).

The top two players in the world are ready to embrace the moment and put on a show once again.

“I really like the battles,” Alcaraz said. “The toughest matches facing the best players in the world.”

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Djokovic returns, Sinner & Alcaraz lead the way in Shanghai: Scouting Report

The best players in the world are ready to take on the ATP Masters 1000 event of the Asian Swing, the Rolex Paris Masters.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz lead the way, while all eyes will be on Novak Djokovic’s return to tournament action. ATPTour.com looks at 10 things to watch in Shanghai.

1) Djokovic back in action: The Serbian, who played one Davis Cup match the week after the US Open, is playing his first tournament since the season’s final major, where he suffered a stunning third-round exit. Djokovic is a four-time champion in Shanghai, where he will try to climb into a Nitto ATP Finals qualifying position. The ninth-placed player in the PIF ATP Live Race will take on Buyunchaokete or #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen in his opening match.

2) Sinner surging: The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings has found a hot stretch of form, winning the Cincinnati Open, US Open and reaching the final in Beijing, where he will face Alcaraz. With six titles to his name this year, the Italian will try to add a Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 crown to his resume. Sinner will open against Taro Daniel or a qualifier. He could face Medvedev, Alcaraz and Djokovic during his run.

3) Alcaraz in form: The Spaniard has won two major titles this year at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and shows no signs of slowing down. But the 21-year-old will need to be sharp from the start in Shanghai, where he debuted last year. Alcaraz will play a #NextGenATP opponent, Shang Juncheng or Coleman Wong, in the second round.

4) Medvedev former champ: Before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of three consecutive editions of the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Medvedev lifted the trophy in 2019. The fifth seed has not yet won a title this season, but will keen to change that in China. He will play Thiago Seyboth Wild or a qualifier in the second round.

5) Chinese stars: Chinese men’s tennis is thriving more than ever. Zhang Zhizhen reached a career-high World No. 31 in July, Shang Juncheng claimed his first ATP Tour title just more than a week ago in Chengdu and Buyunchaokete is playing the best tennis of his life, having made his first tour-level semi-final in Hangzhou and another semi-final in Beijing. Wu Yibing, who became the first Chinese ATP Tour singles champion last year in Dallas, and Zhou Yi will also be in action.

6) Fils headlines #NextGenATP stars competing: Arthur Fils is the first-placed player in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and he brings momentum to Shanghai after claiming the title in Tokyo. The Frenchman plays Roberto Bautista Agut or Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round. Other #NextGenATP players to watch include Shang, Michelsen and Jakub Mensik, who begins his tournament against Pedro Martinez.

7) PIF ATP Live Race To Turin: Medvedev is next in line to qualify for the season finale, with Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev already locked into a Turin spot. Behind Medvedev are fifth seed Taylor Fritz, sixth seed Casper Ruud and seventh seed Andrey Rublev, the 2023 Shanghai finalist, who will all try to consolidate their standing. Eighth-placed Alex de Minaur is out with injury, opening the door for the likes of Djokovic to shake up the Live Race.

8) Nishikori, Wawrinka among wild cards: Former Top 5 stars Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka are among the wild cards at the season’s eighth Masters 1000 event. Nishikori made the semi-finals in 2011 and Wawrinka is a two-time Shanghai quarter-finalist. Wong, Wu and Zhou are the other three singles wild cards.

9) Other players to watch: There are plenty of other players who will bring momentum to the Rolex Shanghai Masters. Sixteenth seed Humbert reached the final in Tokyo and will play Arthur Cazaux or Marin Cilic in the second round. Cilic just won a title in Hangzhou. Thirtieth seed Tomas Machac has been enjoying the best season of his career and just made the semi-finals in Tokyo. Ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov is trying to work his way into contention for a place at the Nitto ATP Finals, the event he won in 2017.

10) Tsitsipas Brothers, Fils/Shelton playing doubles: Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos and Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic are the top two seeds in the doubles draws, but there will be no shortage of interesting teams to watch. Stefanos Tsitsipas is competing with his brother, Petros Tsitsipas, Fils is partnering Ben Shelton, Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev are playing together as are Alexander Bublik and Frances Tiafoe.

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Alcaraz sees off Medvedev to set up Sinner final

Carlos Alcaraz will play Jannik Sinner in the China Open final after cruising past Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.

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Sinner sets Alcaraz blockbuster in Beijing final

The most gripping Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry of the moment will add another chapter on Wednesday when Jannik Sinner plays Carlos Alcaraz in the China Open final.

Sinner set the blockbuster showdown with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory against home favourite Buyunchaokete Tuesday evening in the Beijing semi-finals.

“It’s going to be a tough match. We know each other very well now, but every match is different, so the situation on the court is also a bit different than it was the last two matches. But let’s see,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “I’m happy to be again here in the final. My season is going very, very good and playing finals is always a great moment. I just hope tomorrow is going to be a good match from both of us.”

That grip change tho 🤌@janniksin | @ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/VeDM7xNI4f

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2024

One year ago, Sinner defeated Alcaraz in the Beijing semi-finals en route to lifting the trophy. It was part of his red-hot finish to the season that rolled into 2024, when the Italian became the first player from his country to claim the No. 1 PIF ATP Ranking.

This time when they meet in Beijing, Sinner will bring to the court a 15-match winning streak. Alcaraz is in form himself, having claimed eight consecutive matches and won Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year.

Watch Extended Beijing SF Highlights:

Sinner needed to work hard to set the clash with his great rival. Buyunchaokete had only played one ATP Tour event entering last week’s ATP 250 in Hangzhou, but has proven himself capable of competing with the best players in the world.

“Today was a very tough match because I didn’t know him at all, so in the beginning I didn’t know exactly what to expect. But then I tried somehow to get into the rhythm,” Sinner said. “I felt like the first set I was playing some good tennis and then in the second set I dropped a little bit of intensity, which then he raised his level. I had some chances in the second set also like yesterday to break a bit earlier. I couldn’t use them, so I tried to stay there mentally somehow, which a set can go very, very fast away, so I’m happy to be… back in the final here.”

The pair traded blows from the baseline, which most players are unable to do with the powerful baseline Sinner. Both men played well under pressure, with the Italian saving all three break points he faced and the Chinese player saving eight of the nine opportunities against his serve.

But Sinner was able to rely on his experience in the most critical moments, surging to a 6/1 lead in the second-set tie-break before finishing off his victory in two hours and four minutes. Now he is one win from joining Novak Djokovic as the only players in tournament history to successfully defend the China Open title. But the 23-year-old knows there is a big obstacle, Alcaraz, standing in his way.

The Spaniard will take a 5-4 Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead into their showdown. It will be their second meeting in a final — Sinner defeated Alcaraz in three sets for the Umag trophy in 2022.

“Of course tomorrow is going to be completely different,” Sinner said. “We know each other very well. It’s going to be tactical, but I’m looking forward to it.”

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Fils defies physical struggles, saves championship point for Tokyo crown

Never count out Arthur Fils at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

The #NextGenATP Frenchman on Tuesday added a dramatic victory against Ugo Humbert to his lung-busting campaign at the ATP 500 to clinch the title in Tokyo. Fils saved a championship point in the second-set tie-break before prevailing 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-3 to earn his third tour-level crown.

WHAT IT MEANS 🏆

Arthur Fils is your champion in Tokyo 👊@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/nPfmgRugAo

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2024

“Honestly I don’t know [how I turned it around],” said Fils, who appeared to struggle with an injury to his left leg for much of the second set. “After 5-all in the first, I was feeling dead on the court. He was playing unbelievable shots. It was a very tight first set. I got a lot of break points and didn’t break. He’s such a great champion and it was very tough.

“I tried my best into the second set and then I saved one match point. Everything in tennis can turn in only one second, and it turned. So I’m very happy, but I could have lost today.”

Fils defeated four Top 20 opponents during his Tokyo run: Top seed Taylor Fritz, defending champion Ben Shelton, Holger Rune and Humbert. Three of those four wins came in three sets, while his semi-final triumph against Rune was settled in a pair of hard-fought tie-break sets. It was his second ATP 500 crown following his triumph in Hamburg in July,

“I’m very happy about the tennis I’m producing,” said Fils. “I’m working a lot and trying to build my tennis. I think now it’s better, from Hamburg to here. I still have to improve but it’s cool.”

Fils’ victory against Humbert was all the more extraordinary considering his physical struggles. He seemed to be physically fading from the championship match when he fell to 3-4, 0/40 on serve in the second set, but the 20-year-old somehow found a way to hold serve and force a tie-break.

Then came one of the highlights of the three-hour, five-minute encounter. Fils fended off the championship point at 5/6 with a stunning backhand pass, the first of three straight points he won to level the match at one-set-all.

“Honestly, I think it’s the best backhand I hit all week,” said Fils of his last-gasp passing shot. “It was crazy. I tried my best and it went perfectly.”

Fils, chasing his first Lexus ATP Head2Head victory in four attempts against Humbert, carried that momentum into the decider. He claimed a crucial break in the eighth game before sending an ace down the T to become the second-youngest champion in Tokyo tournament history.

With his movement around the court laboured at times, Fils’ commanding serving display was crucial to his victory. He won 80 per cent (44/55) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and did not face a break point in the deciding set.

After his latest title triumph, Fils extended his lead in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. The Frenchman is now 977 points clear of second-placed Alex Michelsen.

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Cash/Glasspool save MP to take Tokyo title

Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool dug deep to clinch a maiden ATP Tour title early in their fledgling partnership Tuesday at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

The two Britons overcame Ariel Behar and Robert Galloway 6-4, 4-6, 12-10 to lift the trophy in just their second event together. Cash and Glasspool were on the brink of defeat when match point down at 9/10 in the Match Tie-break, but they reeled off three points in a row from there to seal a 78-minute triumph at the ATP 500 in Tokyo.

🏆 Doubles champions in Tokyo 🏆

British duo Cash and Glasspool lift the trophy after defeating Galloway/Behar 6-4 4-6 [12-10]!@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/ilgJcbKMzE

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2024

Both teams produced rock-solid serving performances inside Ariake Coliseum, where each finished the match having won 82 per cent (37/45) of points behind first deliveries, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Yet Cash and Glasspool, who last week reached the Hangzhou quarter-finals in their first tournament together, held their nerve late to become the second all-British pair to triumph in Tokyo after Andy Murray and Jamie Murray in 2011.

It is the biggest title of Cash’s career and his third tour-level title overall after the 28-year-old lifted two ATP 250 crowns alongside his Tokyo championship-match opponent Galloway earlier this year. Glasspool is now a five-time ATP Tour champion after winning his second ATP 500 title (Hamburg 2022 w/Heliovaara).

Heliovaara/Patten rally for Beijing final spot
At the China Open, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten recovered from a slow start to notch an impressive semi-final victory against Jamie Murray and John Peers.

The third-seeded pair, which lifted its maiden major title at Wimbledon in July, prevailed 7-5, 6-1 to seal a final spot on debut at the ATP 500 in Beijing. Heliovaara and Patten had trailed 2-5 in the opening set but went onto convert five of 10 break points they earned in their 79-minute win.

Currently seventh in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings as they chase a spot at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals, Heliovaara and Patten will take on top seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in Wednesday’s final. The Italian pair, which is third in the Live Doubles Teams Rankings, defeated Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic 7-6(1), 6-2 to reach its fifth tour-level title match of 2024.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Alcaraz passes Medvedev SF test in Beijing

Carlos Alcaraz’s red-hot run of hard-court form shows no sign of slowing down at the China Open.

The Spaniard on Tuesday overcame Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3 to reach the final at the ATP 500 in Beijing. Alcaraz prevailed in a high-quality first set that featured five breaks of serve before accelerating past Medvedev in the second to wrap an 88-minute semi-final triumph.

“I think we both started the match pretty well,” said Alcaraz after extending his winning streak to eight tour-level matches. “It was a little bit unusual, with serve being broken many times in the first set. I broke his serve [for 3-2] and then in the next game, I don’t know what happened to me. I probably lost focus a little bit, missed a few first serves that against Daniil on a hard court is a really important weapon. You have to put good first serves in to put yourself in the position to attack.

“I’m really happy that I didn’t lose my focus too long in the first set. I recovered it as soon as I got broken, and I’m really happy that at the end of the set I was able to play really good tennis in the return game and then serving at 6-5. I did a really good game. After that, once you are one set up, it’s a little bit easier, playing against Daniil with more confidence.”

Statement in Beijing 💯@carlosalcaraz outclasses Medvedev to reach his fifth tour-level final this season.@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/ow9zdMozd5

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2024

Medvedev’s second-set efforts appeared to be undermined by an issue with his hip, for which he received treatment from the physio at 2-3 and 3-4. Yet the No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings continued to compete well after both changeovers.

“Sometimes you think, ‘OK, it’s done’, but it’s not done. You have to keep fighting,” reflected Alcaraz. “You have to keep playing the same way that you were playing before and just forget about the opponent. You should focus on yourself and your tennis, so that’s what I tried to do. I was still playing the same way I had played until that point in the match. I didn’t lose the focus in that moment, so I’m really happy that I kept pushing.”

Alcaraz completed his win having converted five of 11 break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He is the third player to reach five tour-level finals this season, after World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Casper Ruud.

After improving his Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Medvedev to 6-2, Alcaraz set a championship-match clash against top seed Sinner or home wild card Buyunchaokete in the Chinese capital. If Sinner reaches the final, it would represent a rematch of their 2023 Beijing semi-final, which the Italian won in straight sets en route to the title.

With his semi-final victory, Alcaraz also kept up his bid to haul in Sinner in the race to become ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. Currently second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, the Spaniard currently trails Sinner by 2,860 points, although the World No. 1 can extend his lead further by defeating Buyunchaokete later on Tuesday.

Since his disappointing second-round loss to Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open, Alcaraz has gone unbeaten in singles across the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage, Laver Cup and China Open. The 21-year-old is chasing his first tour-level title since Wimbledon in July. Alcaraz has also triumphed at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells and Roland Garros this season.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Badosa shocks second seed Pegula at China Open

US Open finalist Jessica Pegula is out of the China Open after a last-16 defeat by Spain’s Paula Badosa.

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Djokovic 'plays big' at Great Wall of China

Novak Djokovic has long been considered a wall on the tennis court. That took new meaning on Sunday, when he spent time at the Great Wall of China.

In the spirit of ‘Play Big’, Lacoste hosted a special event at the Ju Yong Guan pass in Beijing. Located in the Changping district, Ju Yong Guan is one of the best-preserved passes along the Great Wall of China.

<img alt=”Novak Djokovic” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/10/01/04/42/djokovic-great-wall-2024-1.jpg?w=100%25″ />
^{Photo credit: Lacoste}
Ambassadors, celebrities and media were among those who attended the event, where a tennis court was set up. Djokovic enjoyed hitting some balls with Chinese actor Wang Yibo.

Yibo wrote on Instagram: “I’m truly honoured and delighted to have played tennis with an Olympic Champion at the iconic Great Wall! Big thanks to @lacoste , and thank you Nole @djokernole ! I’m already looking forward to our next match, will keep training hard and play big.”

 

 

 

 

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Djokovic commented on the post: “Pleasure to play with you on Great Wall of China. Looking forward to hosting you on one of my matches soon.”

The Serbian star will now enjoy the Asian Swing and continue his pursuit of his 100th tour-level title.

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