Tennis News

Medvedev stays on course in Beijing with Cobolli win

Could Beijing be where Daniil Medvedev returns to the winner’s circle on the ATP Tour?

The No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings continued his China Open campaign in confident fashion on Monday afternoon, when he downed Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-4 at the ATP 500. Medvedev, who is chasing his first ATP Tour trophy since his Rome triumph in May 2023, delivered a typically resilient display to reach his sixth tour-level semi-final of the season.

Although Medvedev clinched victory with a straightforward scoreline, the 28-year-old faced 11 break points in his 88-minute quarter-final victory in the Chinese capital. The third seed saved all but one, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and responded well after Cobolli reclaimed an early break in the second set en route to sealing his win.

“Today was not an easy match, but I’m happy that I fought until the end,” said Medvedev in his post-match press conference. “Actually some good points here and there. One amazing shot, probably one of the best shots of my life I think, at 0/30 in the last game. Super lucky, but you fight until the end, and sometimes you get these lucky shots.”

👋 SEMI-FINALS 👋@DaniilMedwed defeats Cobolli 6-2 6-4 to reach the final four for the sixth time this season.@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/3Objutji9H

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 30, 2024

With his victory, Medvedev improved to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Cobolli after he also defeated the Italian at the US Open earlier this month. He also further boosted his Nitto ATP Finals qualification chances: Medvedev is fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, 730 points clear of fifth-placed Taylor Fritz.

His next test in Beijing, where he reached the championship match in 2023 before falling to Jannik Sinner, is a blockbuster semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz after the Spaniard overcame Karen Khachanov 7-5, 6-2. Medvedev trails Alcaraz 2-5 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“Tomorrow, a tough test against Carlos,” said Medvedev. “I think for me, and I think I’m not the only one to say it… When he’s in the zone, he’s probably the best player in the world. Tough to play him. I feel like now he’s in the zone. So it great test for me.

“I’m going to see how I go out there tomorrow, what tactic, what do I believe in, and I’m going to go for it.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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'No idea if I would play' – how Kartal's success followed health scare

Sonay Kartal feared she would not play again in 2024 because of a health issue. Now she is celebrating the best season of her life.

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Could Sinner face Medvedev, Alcaraz & Djokovic in Shanghai?

Top seed Jannik Sinner faces a daunting draw at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The Italian could face three former No. 1 players in the PIF ATP Rankings — Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals, Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals and Novak Djokovic in the final — during his run at the Chinese ATP Masters 1000 event.

Sinner will begin his tournament against Japanese veteran Taro Daniel or a qualifier, with 31st seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry the first seeded opponent he could play. Also in his section of the draw are 14th seed Ben Shelton and 21st seed Arthur Fils, both potential fourth-round opponents.

Medvedev and 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas are also in Sinner’s quarter of the Shanghai draw. The 2019 Shanghai champion Medvedev will open against Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild or a qualifier.

Third seed Alcaraz, who made the fourth round on his tournament debut last year, will face a #NextGenATP opponent, Shang Juncheng or Coleman Wong, in the second round. Big-serving Chilean Nicolas Jarry, the 25th seed, looms as a potential third-round foe.

Also in the Spaniard’s quarter are eighth seed Casper Ruud, 11th seed Tommy Paul and surging Czech Tomas Machac, the 30th seed who is in the Tokyo semi-finals.

Djokovic is set for just his second match since suffering a stunning loss in the third round of the US Open Open to Alexei Popyrin. The Serbian, who played a Davis Cup match the week after the season’s final major, will open against #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen or in-form Chinese player Buyunchaokete.

The four-time Rolex Shanghai Masters champion has not played the tournament since 2019. The event was not played from 2020-22 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Djokovic has never failed to reach the quarter-finals in nine previous Shanghai appearances.

Second seed Alexander Zverev will open against a qualifier. The 2019 finalist could play red-hot Australian Jordan Thompson, the 26th seed, in the third round. They have split their four previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings, including a split of their two clashes earlier this year.

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Rublev & Alcaraz's Live Race opportunity in Beijing

Andrey Rublev has a huge opportunity to make a move in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin this week at the China Open in Beijing and improve his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive season.

Entering his second-round match on Monday against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Rublev is seventh in the Live Race. By Wednesday, the 26-year-old could climb to fifth.

Since fifth-placed Taylor Fritz and sixth-placed Casper Ruud lost early this week in Tokyo at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships, Rublev could make up ground on his rivals. 

Rublev would pass Ruud for sixth by reaching the Beijing final (3,810 points) and Fritz for fifth by lifting the trophy (3,980 points). He could play two matches Monday, needing to complete his match against Davidovich Fokina with in-form Chinese player Buyunchaokete waiting in the quarter-finals.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin (as of 29 September)

Third-placed Carlos Alcaraz has moved within just five points of second-placed Alexander Zverev in the Live Race by advancing to the Beijing quarter-finals. He would move ahead of the German with a win in the last eight against seventh seed Karen Khachanov.

Both men are far behind first-placed Jannik Sinner, who is in good position to earn ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours. The Italian could further cement his standing by claiming an ATP Tour-leading seventh title of the season.

Sinner, Zverev and Alcaraz are the only men who have qualified for the season finale so far. The Nitto ATP Finals will be held at Inalpi Arena in Turin from 10-17 November.

Fourth-placed Daniil Medvedev is next in line to qualify and is in good position to earn his place at the year-end championships for the sixth straight season. Like Sinner and Alcaraz, he is in the Beijing quarter-finals.

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Fearnley set for top 100 after fourth title of 2024

Jacob Fearnley is set to break into the top 100 of the men’s singles world rankings after winning his fourth Challenger title of 2024.

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Boulter loses to Gauff in China Open third round

Katie Boulter is out of the China Open after suffering a straight-set defeat by Coco Gauff on Sunday.

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#NextGenATP Fils downs defending champ Shelton to reach Tokyo SF

There will be a new champion crowned in Tokyo after #NextGenATP star Arthur Fils muscled his way past defending champion Ben Shelton in a gripping quarter-final clash at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships. 

The 20-year-old brought some of his most ruthless tennis to edge past the explosive American, claiming a 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) victory in three hours. Both players were forced to battle through cramp in their bid to reach the last four, but it was the Frenchman who held his nerve. 

What. A. Match… 🤯

Fils cements his spot in the semis with a 7-5 6-7 7-6(2) win against Shelton after a phenomenal battle from both 👊@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/dn5150vXVl

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2024

Fils’ punishing groundstrokes were on full display under the lights as he crushed 58 winners en route to a statement triumph, setting an eagerly anticipated semi-final clash with Holger Rune, who saved a match point to outlast home favourite Kei Nishikori.

With their Lexus ATP Head2Head series level at 1-1, their upcoming clash in the Japanese capital will be the first meeting on hard courts.

Earlier, Tomas Machac breezed past #NextGenATP talent Alex Michelsen, showing promising signs in his first event of the Asian swing. With a stylish 7-6(2), 6-3 triumph, Machac is into his second ATP Tour semi-final in Tokyo.

Machac struck 34 winners according to Infosys ATP Stats throughout their one hour and 35 minute clash, eventually outlasting Michelsen in the baseline exchanges. The Czech also fired eight aces, won 88 per cent of first-serve points and faced just one break point.

It was a commanding performance that was reflective of his ascent to No. 34 in the PIF ATP Rankings, backing up strong wins against Alexei Popyrin and Tommy Paul earlier in the week.

Michelsen, however, still occupies second place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and finds himself in a solid position to secure a spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals for a second consecutive year.

In the last four, Machac will face off against Ugo Humbert after Jack Draper was forced to retire from their clash with the Frenchman leading 7-5, 2-1.

The 22-year-old, who produced an inspired run to the US Open semi-finals earlier this month, took a medical timeout for an abdominal injury, but it was ultimately to no avail as he called time on their first Lexus ATP Head2Head contest.

Humbert is into his 16th ATP Tour semi-final, bidding to clinch his third title of 2024 after wins in Marseille and Dubai propelled him to a career-high of No. 13 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

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

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.”

Sealed in style 😎

The moment @carlosalcaraz recorded his 200th tour-level win of his career.@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/NzZNJneAXh

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2024

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.

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Alcaraz reaches 200 wins quicker than all World No. 1s but one…

At age 21, Carlos Alcaraz keeps expanding his growing list of career achievements.

Already a four-time major champion who has ascended to World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, the Spaniard reached another milestone Sunday that places his name among several all-time greats.

Alcaraz earned his 200th tour-level win in the China Open second round when he defeated Tallon Griekspoor 6-1, 6-2. Alcaraz has just 52 career losses, giving him a 79 per cent tour-level winning percentage.

“It was a great achievement, getting my 200th win on the ATP Tour. I always try and want to win every match that I play,” Alcaraz said. “Just two years and a half, more or less, being on the Tour, playing the Tour, having my 200th win is great for me. I just want to keep going, to keep getting more and more wins.”

Among the 29 players to reach World No. 1, Alcaraz is the second fastest to record his 200th match win, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Only John McEnroe had fewer losses at the time of recording his 200th match win (200-45).

Record At 200 Wins, All 29 Players To Reach World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings

Coincidentally, Alcaraz’s 200th win came against the same man — Griekspoor — he defeated to record his 100th win in 2023 at Indian Wells.

Just 18 months later, Alcaraz has hit the next century mark. He has not slowed his meteoric rise since taking the tennis world by storm as a teenager and becoming the youngest World No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings in history in 2022 aged 19.

Sinner, the current World No. 1, who is also competing in Beijing, had 74 losses when he captured his 200th win, the same record Novak Djokovic and Stefan Edberg owned when they reached the milestone. The Serbian Djokovic has spent a record 428 weeks atop the PIF ATP Rankings.

Alcaraz has tallied a 45-9 season record with three titles: Indian Wells, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Into the Beijing quarter-finals, he next will face seventh seed Karen Khachanov. Alcaraz could meet rival Sinner in the ATP 500 final.

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Rune saves MP to survive Nishikori, advances to Tokyo SFs

Holger Rune saved a match point to defeat home hope Kei Nishikori Sunday in Tokyo and continue his bid for a first ATP Tour title of the season.

The No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings rallied to overcome two-time Tokyo champion Nishikori 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in two hours and 16 minutes to advance to the semi-finals at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

The Dane received a time violation while facing a match point serving at 3-5 in the deciding set, but found a big first serve to get him out of trouble and recovered to move one step closer to claiming his first title of the year. He has reached one final this season in Brisbane, where he lost 6-7(5), 4-6 to Grigor Dimitrov.

“His ball striking and feel on the ball was incredible and it was very challenging for me,” Rune said in his post-match interview. “I had to find another gear to be able to beat him and it was almost not enough, but I managed to find that level and find that fighting spirit to beat him.”

Rising to the occasion ⚡️@holgerrune2003 saves match point against Nishikori to advance to the final four in Tokyo.@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/UJjN0FTkEE

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2024

The Dane struck 39 winners, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to claim victory in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head encounter. Rune also saved six of the eight break points he faced to become the fifth player to make six tour-level semi-finals this year.

The 21-year-old currently sits 16th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin as he seeks to qualify for his second consecutive Nitto ATP Finals. He next faces either eighth seed Ben Shelton or #NextGenATP talent Arthur Fils in the final four. 

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