World no. 3 Carlos Alcaraz will seek his first Beijing Open title next week. The Spaniard is competing at the prestigious ATP 500 event for the second time, reaching the semi-final a year ago and hoping for a better run this time. The young gun praised the event, calling it one of the most organized stops on the calendar and the most challenging ATP 500 tournament to win. World no. 1 Jannik Sinner leads this year’s Beijing Open draw, followed by Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov. Alcaraz led Team Europe toward their fifth Laver Cup trophy last weekend and will try to generate that boost and extend a good run in the Chinese capital. The Spaniard debuted in Beijing a year ago with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Yannick Hanfmann in an hour and 37 minutes. The favorite experienced issues behind the second serve, losing serve two times and erasing the deficit with a strong performance on the return.
Carlos Alcaraz, Beijing Open 2023© Stream screenshot
Carlos took almost half of the return points and generated 16 break chances, seizing five and controlling the scoreboard. The young gun landed 18 winners and 15 unforced errors while welcoming 30 mistakes from his opponent. The Spaniard tamed his strokes nicely, building the lead in the shortest and more advanced exchanges and moving over the top in straight sets. World no. 2 reached the quarter-final following a rock-solid 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Lorenzo Musetti in an hour and 21 minutes. Alcaraz played well on serve and return, holding the strings of the duel in his hands and becoming the first player with 60 ATP wins in 2023. The Spaniard beat the Italian for the second time in three duels, imposing his strokes on serve and return. Carlos saved three break points and notched four return games from five opportunities, taking charge in the pivotal moments and moving through. World no. 2 landed 15 winners and outplayed fellow youngster in the quickest and more extended exchanges, setting the clash against Casper Ruud.
Carlos Alcaraz, Beijing Open 2023© Stream screenshot
Carlos Alcaraz is eager to embrace his second Beijing Open campaign.
Alcaraz remained on the title course after ousting world no. 9 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 44 minutes. Thus, he reached the 12th semi-final from 14 tournaments in 2023, presenting an incredible consistency. Carlos brought more efficient numbers behind the first and second serve, offering Casper two break points and losing serve once. Ruud could not follow those numbers, giving away half of the points in his games and playing against 15 break points. He saved 11, but Alcaraz forged the lead with four return games on his tally. The Spaniard added 28 winners and 25 unforced errors to his tally, overpowering his rival while targeting his backhand. The Norwegian hit seven winners and sprayed almost 30 mistakes, struggling to draw world no. 2 away from the comfort zone. Carlos shifted into a higher gear in the second set, storming over Casper and arranging the semi-final encounter with Jannik Sinner.
Carlos Alcaraz, Beijing Open 2023© Stream screenshot
It was their seventh meeting, and the Italian scored his fourth win, taking down the better-ranked opponent 7-6, 6-1 in an hour and 55 minutes. World no. 7 prevailed in the opener and took charge in set number two, erasing seven of nine break points and forcing world no. 2 to follow that pace. Carlos stayed competitive in the opener, losing it in the tie break and fading from the court in set number two. The Spaniard could not serve like in the previous matches, dropping half of the points in his games and allowing the Italian to secure five breaks from eight chances. Alcaraz was in trouble after missing the first serve, spraying too many errors and standing behind in the shortest and mid-range rallies.
Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Beijing 2023© Stream screenshot
World no. 3 will face the giant server Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round in Beijing on Friday, hoping for a reliable start to his second campaign in the Chinese capital. Carlos experienced an early US Open defeat and bounced back with two Davis Cup victories, propelling his country toward the Davis Cup Finals. Alcaraz led Team Europe at last weekend’s Laver Cup in Berlin, gathering eight points for the blue squad and helping them win the fifth title, the first since 2021. The Spaniard played the decisive match against the US Open finalist, Taylor Fritz, sealing the deal in straight sets and starting a massive celebration with his teammates. Carlos changed three flights to reach Beijing, sleeping most of the time and trying to preserve energy ahead of his first match.
“I visited China for the first time last year and enjoyed my time in Beijing. This is one of the best tournaments I have played at. It’s great to live that experience again, and I’m motivated to play well and do a good job. Beijing provides one of the toughest ATP 500 draws you can get, and it’s not easy to embrace a deep run. However, I will enjoy it as much as possible,” Carlos Alcaraz said.