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Agence France-Presse

Carlos Alcaraz roared back from a set down to beat world No 1 Jannik Sinner in a thriller and win his first China Open title on Wednesday.
The four-time grand slam champion from Spain edged a captivating final 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 for his fourth ATP crown of the year and 16th overall.
Alcaraz, who is set to return to No 2 in the world behind Sinner, was 3-0 down in the final-set tiebreak 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.

“What can I say about the year you’re having, it’s unbelievable,” Alcaraz told Sinner at the victory presentation.
“I respect you a lot as a player, but even more as a person.”
US Open champion Sinner has been playing in Beijing under fresh scrutiny.
The Italian has admitted to sleepless nights over his doping case, which was reignited at the weekend when the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) said it had appealed the decision to clear him.
In front of a packed house in the Chinese capital, 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 fist pump.
The Spaniard held easily for 4-1 and had his opponent uncharacteristically rattled. Alcaraz, 21, served for the set but US Open champion Sinner grabbed the break back when he needed it most.
Sinner then saved set point on his own serve to force the tie break, and saved another in the tie break before taking the set at his first opportunity when Alcaraz fired long.
It was the first set Alcaraz had dropped all week, and the second set was just as tight.
Both players saw chances come and go but they went with serve until Alcaraz broke for 5-4, before holding with ease to send the final into a third set.
The decider again went to a tiebreak, where Alcaraz finally prevailed on his first match point.
“It was a great battle again,” said Sinner, who twice tested positive for a steroid in March but tennis authorities cleared him of wrongdoing and allowed him to keep playing.
In August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted Sinner’s explanation that the drug entered his system unintentionally when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided massage and sports therapy to the player.
Wada on Saturday said it had appealed and was seeking a ban of up to two years.


Zhang Zhizhen targets top 30, grand slam success, and first ATP career win in Shanghai

ATP Next Gen Finals: illness mars Jerry Shang’s preparation for pre-season, Hong Kong Open

Rafael Nadal’s coach guiding Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong through minefield of men’s tennis

Andrey Rublev set for Hong Kong return after ‘roller coaster’ year, but wary of top-seed tag

ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

China Open men’s final: Carlos Alcaraz fights back to beat Jannik Sinner in thriller

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after defeating Jannik Sinner in the China Open final in Beijing. Photo: AFP

Carlos Alcaraz (right) greets runner-up Jannik Sinner during the trophy ceremony. Photo: EPA-EFE

Former world No 1 Halep to begin tennis comeback at WTA 125 tournament in Hong Kong

Simona Halep is making her return to competitive tennis in Hong Kong. Photo: EPA-EFE

Simona Halep speaks to the media after a hearing for a doping case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. Photo: Reuters

Navarro, Halep win in Hong Kong, Sabalenka continues hot streak at China Open in Beijing

Emma Navarro on her way to victory over Viktorija Golubic in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Photo: Clicks Images

Aryna Sabalenka takes selfies with fans after her win. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

China

Tennis

‘I respect you a lot as a player, but even more as a person,’ Spaniard tells Sinner, who has faced scrutiny over positive tests for steroid


‘I respect you a lot as a player, but even more as a person,’ Spaniard tells Sinner, who has faced scrutiny over positive tests for steroid.


US Open (tennis)

Doping in sport