Carlos Alcaraz roared back from a set down to beat world number one Jannik Sinner in a thriller and win his first China Open title on October 2. The four-time Grand Slam champion from Spain edged a captivating final 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) for his fourth ATP crown of the year and 16th overall.
Alcaraz, who is set to return to number two in the world behind Sinner, was 3-0 down in the final-set tie break only to fight back and win in three hours, 21 minutes. The dramatic triumph ended Sinner’s run of 14 victories in a row and saw him deposed as the Beijing champion after an almighty fight.
In front of a packed house in Beijing, the early exchanges were nervy with both players under immediate pressure on their service games. Sinner, 23, was the first to blink, with second-seeded Alcaraz breaking for a 3-1 lead and celebrating with a pump of the fist. The Spaniard held easily for 4-1 and had his opponent uncharacteristically rattled.