Sinner Downs Dimitrov, Sets Alcaraz Beijing Blockbuster

Jannik Sinner has set a blockbuster China Open semi-final clash with top seed Carlos Alcaraz after defeating Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in Beijing Monday.

Sinner, who rallied from a set down to beat the Spaniard in the Miami semi-finals earlier in the year, will look to take a 4-3 lead in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with the World No. 2.

Having already this week climbed to an equal-best No. 6 in the Pepperstone Live ATP Rankings, the 22-year-old Italian will surge to World No. 4 should he push onto the Beijing final.

Sinner, who said that he wasn’t feeling 100 per cent, missed the chance to close out the match in straight sets when he failed to convert eight break point opportunities across three games in the second set. The match turned when he blew four break points when leading 0/40 at 3-all and then dropped serve himself after going down 0/40 in the following game.

“I had one game 15/40, one game 0/40 where I made some unforced errors and he also played quite aggressive. This is tennis,” Sinner said.

“Obviously it’s easier if you take those chances… in the third set I thought I handled the situation well, especially when serving at a tough moment at 4-2. I’m very happy to be in the next round.”

Sinner collected his 47th match win of the year, matching his 2022 haul. He is on track to reach the 50-wins milestones for the first time, having topped out at 49 in 2021. He is fourth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, next in line to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held 12-19 November.