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Agence France-Presse

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner defied the controversy surrounding his doping case to join Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev on Monday in the China Open semi-finals.
The defending champion will face either Andrey Rublev or Chinese wild card Bu Yunchaokete after defeating Jiri Lehecka 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) for his 14th win in a row.
The 23-year-old is under the microscope after the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) said on Saturday it was seeking a ban of up to two years after he twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared the Italian of wrongdoing in August and allowed him to continue playing, and weeks later he won the US Open for his second major title.
The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that the drug entered his system when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided massage and sports therapy to the player.
Wada has appealed the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
On the tennis court, the world No 1 recovered from a set down to win his first two matches in Beijing but he made a fast start against the 37th-ranked Lehecka from the Czech Republic.
Sinner surged through the first set of their quarter-final but there was little between them in the second as they traded some thunderous groundstrokes.
They went to a tie break, where Sinner saved two set points on the way to victory.
Four-time grand slam champion Alcaraz plays last year’s runner-up Medvedev after emerging from a tense first set to defeat Russian seventh seed Karen Khachanov 7-5, 6-2.
Russian third seed Medvedev beat unseeded Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-4.
Alcaraz and 2021 US Open champion Medvedev have met seven times before, with the Spaniard winning five of their meetings, most recently in the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
“When he’s in the zone he’s probably the best player in the world,” Medvedev said of the second seed.
“I feel like now he’s in the zone, so it’s a great test for me.”

In the women’s draw, Naomi Osaka set up a last-16 clash with Coco Gauff while top seed Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen both sailed through.
Four-time major champion Osaka defeated American Katie Volynets 6-3, 6-2 and faces American fourth seed Gauff in a showdown of former US Open title-holders.
“It’s definitely going to be a battle – who wants to take control of the point first,” said Osaka, a former number one now ranked 73.
“And I think it’s going to be me.”
Osaka is playing her first tournament under Patrick Mouratoglou, the Frenchman best known for being the long-time former coach of Serena Williams.
The 26-year-old Japanese won four majors from 2018 to 2021: the US Open and Australian Open, both twice.
She is also a former winner in Beijing and has said she feels at home on the hard courts of the Chinese capital.
But Osaka has struggled for consistency since returning to tennis in January after the birth of her daughter Shai. Her best results after becoming a parent have been two quarter-final appearances.
World number two Sabalenka will take some stopping after the US Open champion swatted aside Ashlyn Krueger 6-2, 6-2 for her 14th victory in a row. She plays another American next in Madison Keys.
Zheng, the home hero playing in China for the first time since winning gold in Paris, rolled over Nadia Podoroska of Argentina 6-3, 6-2. The world No 7 will play Amanda Anisimova of the US, ranked 43, in the round of 16.
Jasmine Paolini became the biggest casualty so far when the third seed was beaten 6-4, 6-0 by 31st-seeded Magda Linette.


ATP Finals: defending champ Novak Djokovic withdraws from season-ending event due to injury

Next Generation ATP Finals: Coleman Wong steps closer to Jeddah with Challenger event win

Style Edit: Rolex Testimonee Jannik Sinner wins Shanghai Masters – the brand also supports top stars like Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and women’s world No 1 Iga Swiatek

Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal end ‘amazing rivalry’ with likely final meeting of tennis GOATs

ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)

China Open: Jannik Sinner defies doping case to make last 4, Zheng Qinwen through to last 16

Italy’s Jannik Sinner hits a return to Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka in their quarter-final at the China Open in Beijing on Monday. Photo: AFP

China’s Zheng Qinwen hits a return against Nadia Podoroska of Argentina. Photo: Xinhua

China Open: Naomi Osaka sets up Coco Gauff clash in Beijing as Aryna Sabalenka marches on

Naomi Osaka of Japan beat 60th-ranked American Katie Volynets and will now face fellow former US Open winner Gauff in a round of 16 clash. Photo: AP

Fourth seed Coco Gauff of the US booked her place in the last 16 with a win over Britain’s Katie Boulter. Photo: AFP

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts during play against the US’ Ashlyn Krueger in Beijing on Monday. Photo: AP

Hong Kong Tennis 125: city debutants Emma Navarro, Simona Halep excited for local delights

Two-time grand slam winner Simona Halep will play her first tournament in more than four months at the Hong Kong Tennis 125 event at Victoria Park, Causeway Bay this week. Photo: May Tse

Emma Navarro is using the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125 to warm up for the Wuhan Open. Photo: Mike Chan

China Open: Olympic champ Zheng Qinwen to channel energy of home fans in title bid

Zheng Qinwen says she is looking forward to playing in front of crowds where “95 per cent” of the supporters will be behind her. Photo: Xinhua

Zheng Qinwen signs autographs for supporters after a China Open training session in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

China’s recent tennis success not a fluke but a reflection of genuine progress, Li Na says

Li Na, China’s only grand slam winner, is tournament director of October’s Hong Kong Open to be held at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. Photo: SCMP/Sun Yeung

China’s Zhang Zhizhen is ranked 31st in the world, and is joined in the top 100 by Shang Juncheng. Photo: EPA-EFE

British No 1 Katie Boulter says she is looking forward to coming to Hong Kong for the first time. Photo: AP

China Open: Zhang Shuai stuns sixth seed Emma Navarro in Beijing with straight-sets win

Zhang Shuai has beaten sixth seed Emma Navarro in the second round of the China Open in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Tennis

Wada is seeking a ban for the Italian after he twice tested positive for traces of a steroid; hometown hero Zheng beats Nadia Podoroska


Wada is seeking a ban for the Italian after he twice tested positive for traces of a steroid; hometown hero Zheng beats Nadia Podoroska.


WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Zheng Qinwen