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Agence France-Presse

Carlos Alcaraz sent Daniil Medvedev packing to reach his first China Open final on Tuesday as 595th-ranked Zhang Shuai added another chapter to her fairy tale renaissance.
Second seed Alcaraz was in fine form to win 7-5, 6-3 and faces world No 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner – who defeated Chinese wild card Bu Yunchaokete 6-3, 7-6 (3) – for the men’s crown in Beijing.
Medvedev, the Russian third seed, was looking to emulate his run to last year’s title-decider, where he was beaten by the Italian Sinner.
But he showed signs of frustration at times against 21-year-old Alcaraz and twice required treatment on his left leg in the second set.
“I think I played really well. Obviously if I want to beat Daniil, I have to play really good tennis, high-quality tennis,” said four-time major champion Alcaraz, who is yet to drop a set.
“I felt great on the court once again, so I’m really happy about it. I think I couldn’t ask for a better semi-final.”

After some high-quality tennis, the two players exchanged warm words over the net at the end.
Medvedev said he joked he should dress up as Botic van de Zandschulp, the unheralded Dutchman who stunned Alcaraz in the second round of the recent US Open.
“Maybe this can help,” Medvedev told reporters. “Today I played pretty well. I don’t see how I could beat him today.”
Alcaraz is looking to seal his 16th ATP Tour crown when the final takes place on Wednesday.
In the women’s draw, home hope Zhang – one of the storylines of the tournament – rolled into the quarter-finals to make more history.
Her 6-4, 6-2 victory over Magdalena Frech was her fourth win in Beijing and all in straight sets – having come into the event after losing 24 singles matches in a row.
The barren run lasting more than 600 days was the second-longest on the WTA Tour in the Open Era, which began in 1968.
The 35-year-old Zhang, a former two-time grand slam quarter-finalist who has been plagued by injury, said she had come close to quitting singles tennis before coming to Beijing.
“I had no idea how to win and I didn’t want to lose another, especially with all the Chinese fans,” she said.
“Walking back to the locker room, I didn’t know if I should continue or not before this tournament.”
The former top-25 player will face Spain’s 19th-ranked Paula Badosa in the last eight.
Zhang is the lowest-ranked player to ever reach this stage of the China Open and struck a defiant pose – a tribute to Kylian Mbappe – after beating 31st-ranked Frech in front of a packed house on China’s national day.
“In this draw, everyone has a higher ranking than me,” Zhang said. “Just step on court, just play. So I do not have much to think about, to prepare. I will just focus on myself.”

Former world No 2 Badosa dumped out US Open finalist Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-0 to make the second-seeded American the biggest casualty so far.
Pegula came into the WTA 1000 event as one of the form players on tour and having reached the final in New York last month, where she was beaten by Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka is the top seed in the Chinese capital and plays American 18th seed Madison Keys in the last 16.
Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine also caused an upset loss beating No. 14-ranked Anna Kalinskaya 7-5, 6-0.
The No. 115-ranked Starodubtseva will play the winner of the marquee women’s match of the day between four-time major winner Naomi Osaka and sixth-ranked Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals.
Defending champion and world number one Iga Swiatek is not involved because of “personal matters”.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Nao Hibino caused an upset in the first round of the Hong Kong 125 Open when she beat second-seeded Frenchwoman Clara Burel 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
Other winners on the first day at Causeway Bay included fourth seed Varvara Gracheva, who beat China’s May Yexin 0-6, 6-1, 6-2; an American fifth seed McCartney Kessler, who defeated Hong Kong’s Eudice Chong 6-3, 6-4.
Top seed Emma Navarro of the US and two-time grand slam winner Simona Halep begin their campaigns on Wednesday.


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WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

China Open: Carlos Alcaraz sweeps into final as home hero Zhang Shuai extends fairy tale

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain serves during the singles semi-final match against Daniil Medvedev of Russia at the China Open. Photo: Xinhua

Italy’s Jannik Sinner celebrates after beating China’s Bu Yunchaokete. Photo: Reuters

Zhang Shuai’s win over Poland’s Magdalena Frech was her fourth in Beijing, all in straight sets. Photo: AP

China Open: defiant history-maker Zhang Shuai wins 4th match in a row to power into last 8

China’s Zhang Shuai reacts after defeating Poland’s Magdalena Frech to reach the quarter-finals of the China Open. Photo: AFP

Former world No 2 Paula Badosa of Spain made the US’ Jessica Pegula the biggest casualty so far. Photo: AP

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

China Open: US Open tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka aims to cap off year with No 1 ranking

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus training in Beijing for the China Open, which starts on Wednesday. Photo: Xinhua

Aryna Sabalenka will be playing for the first time since winning the US Open. Photo: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

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

Sport

Tennis

Spaniard will meet world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who beat China’s Bu Yunchaokete, while Zhang becomes lowest-ranked player to reach quarter-finals


Spaniard will meet world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who beat China’s Bu Yunchaokete, while Zhang becomes lowest-ranked player to reach quarter-finals.


ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)