He Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz (N.3) and the italiano Jannik Sinner (N.1) qualified for the semifinals of the ATP500 tournament in Beijing after beating the Russian Karen Khachanov this Monday, 7-5 and 6-2, and the Czech Jiri Lehecka, 6-2 and 7-6 (8/ 6), respectively.
In a disputed first set, Alcaraz, who already has four Grand Slam tournaments, pushed the repertoire with his best shots in difficult moments to win the first set: first when he returned the ‘break’ as soon as he lost serve at 2-3 . on the scoreboard and then when the Russian was two balls away from breaking again (at 4-4), which would have left him one game and service away from scoring the first set.
After this battle, Khachanov (N.27) kept the match even until he lost serve in the fifth game and ended up giving up the match.
“I always try to be aggressive, using strong punches, and I feel like I’m not afraid to show it,” Alcaraz said after adding his seventh consecutive victory.
“During the last few matches things have gone well. I’m hitting the ball very well, I’m moving well and I’m not letting my opponents play their best tennis. That’s what I like and what I want in every game“, go .
The 21-year-old young man from Murcia will face another Russian in the semifinals, Daniil Medvedev (N.5), who for his part defeated the Italian Flavio Cobolli (N.32) 6-2 and 6-4.
Alcaraz and Medvedev have already met seven timeswith five victories for the Spaniard, the last of them in the semifinals of the last Wimbledon tournament.
“It’s not an easy situation” for Sinner
Sinner, world No. 1, also entered the semifinals, who seems to leave his doping problems aside, after the World Anti-Doping Agency announced that it had appealed the acquittal of the tennis player for two positive tests in March, and beat the Czech Jiri Lehecka ( N.37) by 6-2 and 7-6 (8/6).
“I try to focus on my job and do everything I can to be ready to play,” Sinner said, although he admitted that “it’s not an easy situation.”
“I always try to tell myself that I haven’t done anything wrong but of course there have been many sleepless nights” since March, when he tested positive which the Italian attributes to an “accidental contamination” through a spray used by your physiotherapist.
Sinner will face for a place in the final with the Chinese Yunchaokete Bu (N.96), who surprised the Russian Andrey Rublev (N.6) by 7-5 and 6-4.
In the women’s category, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the main favorite, the Japanese Naomi Osaka, the Spanish Cristina Bucsa and the local idol Zheng Qinwen (N.7), who defeated the Argentine Nadia Podoroska (N.66) advanced to the next round. by 6-3 and 6-2.
Also eliminated was the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia (N.12), who lost to the American Madison Keys (N.24) by a double 6-3.
The results of the Beijing tournament day:
Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals:
Jannik Sinner (ITA/N.1) derrot a Jir Lehecka (CZE) 6-2, 7-6 (8/6)
Bu Yunchaokete (CHN) and Andrey Rublev (RUS/N.4) 7-5, 6-4
Daniil Medvedev (RUS/N.3) to Flavio Cobolli (ITA) 6-2, 6-4
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/N.2) defeats Karen Khachanov (RUS/N.7) 7-5, 6-2
Women’s singles – round 3:
Aryna Sabalenka (BLR/N.1) derrot a Ashlyn Krueger (USA) 6-2, 6-2
Madison Keys (USA/N.18) defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA/N.13) 6-3, 6-3
Cristina Bucsa (ESP) to Elise Mertens (BEL/N.24) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Karolna Muchov (CZE) and Jaqueline Cristian (RUM) 6-1, 6-3
Magda Linette (POL/N.31) to Jasmine Paolini (ITA/N.3) 6-4, 6-0
Mirra Andreeva (RUS/N.17) a Donna Vekic (CRO/N.16) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Amanda Anisimova (USA/N.34) to Daria Kasatkina (RUS/N.9) 7-6 (7/1), 6-4
Zheng Qinwen (CHN/N.5) a Nadia Podoroska (ARG) 6-3, 6-2
Anna Kalinskaya (RUS/N.10) to Peyton Stearns (EE.UU.) 3-6, 6-3, 3-1 and retirement
Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs Katie Volynets (EEU) 6-3, 6-2
AFP
