Sinner and Alcaraz advance to China Open semifinals as Sabalenka continues dominant run | Sports

October 1, 2024

BEIJING (AP) — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner moved into the semifinals of the China Open with a 6-2, 7-6 (6) victory over Jiri Lehecka on Monday.

Just two days after the World Anti-Doping Agency introduced it was looking for a ban of 1 to two years for the U.S. Open champion, who examined optimistic twice for an anabolic steroid in March, the 23-year-old Italian didn’t seem distracted as he rapidly obtained to grips with the No. 37-ranked Lehecka’s serve in a dominant first set.

The defending champion confronted two set factors at 4-6 within the second-set tiebreak, however discovered a approach to shut out his 14th consecutive win and advance to a semifinal in opposition to both fifth-seeded Andrey Rubev or native favourite No. 96-ranked Bu Yunchaokete, who play later Monday.

“So happy how I handled a tough situation,” Sinner stated. “Feel like I still can improve a couple of things here so hopefully tomorrow is going to be that day when I feel better on the court.”

Third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz superior to the semifinals for the second straight yr after a formidable 7-5, 6-2 victory in opposition to Karen Khachanov.

The 21-year-old Spaniard was characteristically relentless from the baseline and floor down the No. 27-ranked Khachanov’s service video games and transformed 4 of 12 service break alternatives to win in 96 minutes.

“I always try to put some pressure when they’re serving just to in a certain way tell them that I’m going to be there,” Alcaraz stated. “If they want to win the service game or to beat me, they have to accept the battle and playing a really good tennis. For me, it’s what I’m trying to show them all the time.”

It was Alcaraz’s forty sixth win of the season and it allowed the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion to climb again above the absent Alexander Zverev into second place within the ATP reside rankings.

Alcaraz will face Daniil Medvedev within the semifinals, after the fifth-ranked Russian beat Flavio Cobolli of Italy 6-2, 6-4.

Medvedev, nonetheless in search of his first title of the yr, made 16 fewer unforced errors than the Italian and transformed 4 of his eight breakpoint alternatives as he closed out a strong 88-minute victory.

Sabalenka extends successful streak

Aryna Sabalenka’s dominant hard-court season confirmed no indicators of slowing down as she cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Ashlyn Krueger for her 14th consecutive victory.

The three-time Grand Slam winner began her streak with a title at Cincinnati in August and continued with a run to the championship on the U.S. Open earlier this month. She additionally gained the Australian Open earlier within the yr.

The second-ranked Sabalenka transformed 5 of her seven breakpoint alternatives in a lopsided contest in opposition to Krueger and will subsequent face Madison Keys, hoping to equal her career-best 15 consecutive victories set in 2020-21.

“Well, maybe right now, like, I’m not playing my best tennis,” Sabalenka stated. “But I think the way I’m controlling my emotions and the way I’m holding myself sometimes really helping me to stay in most of the matches, in those difficult situations to keep fighting and keep playing my best tennis.”

Keys had a 6-3, 6-3 win over Beatrice Haddad Maia of Brazil. Haddad Maia gained the Korea Open final week however struggled to fight the baseline energy of Keys.

Former No. 1 Naomi Osaka continued her optimistic begin with new coach Patrick Mouratoglou with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Katie Volynets, advancing to a round-of-16 match in opposition to sixth-ranked Coco Gauff.

It would be the first assembly between the 2 Grand Slam champions in additional than two years, with the head-to-head collection tied at 2-2.

“It’s going to be a really cool test for me,” Osaka stated. “She’s played really well this year. I’m excited to play the match, and I know people are excited to watch the match.”

The four-time main winner joined Mouratoglou shortly earlier than the China Open after splitting with Wim Fisette. Her run right here to date is the primary time since May that Osaka has had three consecutive wins.

Fifth-ranked Jasmine Paolini had a day to neglect as she was humbled 6-4, 6-0 by No. 45-ranked Magda Linette of Poland.