Alcaraz blitzes Griekspoor for 200th win, advances to QFs in Beijing

  • Posted: Sep 29, 2024

Winning is something that Carlos Alcaraz has become accustomed to on the ATP Tour. It is now second nature for the 21-year-old, who has just surpassed another milestone.

The second seed’s comprehensive 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Tallon Griekspoor in the second round of the China Open on Sunday constituted a 200th tour-level win for Alcaraz, who became the third player born in the 2000s to achieve this feat, joining Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime. 

“I’m really happy about it – 200 wins is a great number,” Alcaraz said of his latest achievement. “But I am already looking for the third hundred. I just want to keep going, to keep rolling. I am looking forward to playing matches and to keep doing the things that I am doing.”

Despite the one-sided score in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, which is now 4-0 in favour of the Spaniard, the quality of shotmaking was palpable. It was lights out tennis from the off, and it wasn’t long before the No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings took a stranglehold on the match.

Alcaraz won 100 per cent of first-serve points (23/23), according to Infosys ATP Stats, during the 57 minute encounter. The Dutchman came unstuck thanks to the craft and guile deployed by his younger opponent.

The Spaniard, who has 15 tour-level titles to his name, will face seventh seed Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals in Beijing with the hopes of extending his 3-0 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Alcaraz fell short at the semi-final stage in last year’s tournament, but will be eager to keep up with Sinner in the battle to finish as ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. The Italian is currently in pole position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, 2,990 points clear of third-placed Alcaraz.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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