Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner LIVE: China Open latest score and updates from blockbuster Beijing final
Alcaraz and Sinner are meeting in a final for the first time since 2022, having split the grand slams this season
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner do battle in a blockbuster China Open final and a clash between the two best players in the world this year.
World No 1 Sinner, 23 won the Australian Open and US Open for his first grand slam titles this season but in between Alcaraz, 21, lifted the French Open and Wimbledon titles. Alcaraz defeated Sinner in five sets in the Roland Garros semi-final, in what was the last meeting of the two young rivals.
This will be the 10th match between the Italian and Spaniard, and their first final since 2022 after five consecutive clashes in semi-finals. Sinner won the China Open last year and is looking to defend his crown, with Alcaraz trying to close the gap to World No 1 over the remainder of the season.
Off the court, Sinner continues to play amid his anti-doping controversy, which has taken a fresh twist since the start of Beijing. Sinner, though, has racked up 15 wins in a row, while Alcaraz has won eight in a row since his shock defeat in the US Open second round.
Follow live updates and the latest score from Beijing as Alcaraz and Sinner meet in the final of the China Open
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 6-6 Jannik Sinner - TIEBREAK!
Alcaraz is transformed! He returns to the net and is all over Sinner, putting the volley past him. 4-3 to Alcaraz.
Now a thundering forehand winner from Alcaraz! That flew past Sinner before he knew it. Alcaraz unloads on the forehand and finds the line!
FIVE points in a row! 5-3. The pressure gets to Sinner and he pushes long on the forehand! SIX in a row for Alcaraz!
AND THREE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS! ANOTHER FOREHAND WINNER FROM ALCARAZ AND HE’S WON A THRILLER IN BEIJING!
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 6-6 Jannik Sinner - TIEBREAK!
POINT! Alcaraz had to win that, and stays alive as Sinner reaches his drop shot but Alcaraz fflicks the winner into opener court.
WHAT POINT! POINT OF THE MATCH! THESE TWO!!! Alcaraz gets the break back, but how?? It’s amazing from both, Sinner and Alcaraz stretching the court. So many outstanding recoveries, but Alcaraz is there to flick the final passing shot at the net!
ACE! Three points in a row from Alcaraz! 3-3!
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 6-6 Jannik Sinner - TIEBREAK!
Reminder that Sinner is now 22-6 in tiebreaks this year. Alcaraz is 14-11.
And Sinner gets off to a strong start, with a first serve and thumping smash. DROP SHOT from Sinner! Unreal! It beats Alcaraz! Such a lovely disguise!
2-0 to Sinner! And now Alcaraz needs to change his shoes! His shoe-lace is broken!
Not for the first time, Alcaraz’s second serve is hesitant. Sinner attacks, and moves 3-0 in front with two serves to come!
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 6-6 Jannik Sinner - TIEBREAK!
Alcaraz with a confident start as he swats away the winner and then lands a first serve down the middle to get to 30-0.
Sinner finds a lovely direction on the backhand but makes a return error on the next point. 40-15, as Alcaraz finds a brilliant serve, forehand, and smash.
A match tiebreak to decide the final? On we go. Brilliant drama.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 5-6 Jannik Sinner
Wow. Sinner finds a massive serve down the middle and forehand strike for a winner. Alcaraz’s return pops up for another forehand attack, but Sinner pushes wide!
Back to deuce. Sinner finds the first serve, but Alcaraz’s return is stunning! Sinner comes into the net but can’t pick up Alcaraz’s huge forehand return!
Break point. But Alcaraz nets on the backhand! The Italian’s serve has just gone up a level. What a game this is.
Sinner escapes. Alcaraz pushes the sliced backhand long and then nets, after Sinner stayed solid on the baseline.
He moves 6-5 ahead. The pressure goes back on Alcaraz’s shoulders.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 5-5 Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz and Sinner at 5-5 in the deciding set of a final? Yes please.
Hands from Alcaraz on the opening point of Sinner’s serve! The Italian found the net-cord, but Alcaraz adjusted and popped away the volley.
SHOT! Alcaraz with a running forehand winner crosscourt, after Sinner left the gap! 0-30 to the Spaniard.
But Alcaraz will give you chances. He lets Sinner off the hook for now with two forehand misses. Live by the sword, die by the sword and all that.
30-30. POINT! Brilliant exchange at the net as Sinner goes for the drop shot and Alcaraz reaches it. Sinner pops the volley over Alcaraz’s head.
40-30. Sinner thinks he’s found the short forehand winner, but it just drifts out! A huge deuce coming up as we tick over the three-hour mark!
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 5-5 Jannik Sinner*
A nervy point from Alcaraz as a miss brings up 15-30, putting Sinner two points away from the title.
POINT! Alcaraz survives! Sinner had the chance to make the pass on the forehand, but Alcaraz stretches to make the volley! 30-30.
Oof. Now Alcaraz catches the line with a backhand crosscourt! That was bold. 40-30, Alcaraz with the chance as he meets the volley, but he nets!
Incredible. Deuce. Alcaraz continues to attack. What a response. Volley. Serve. Two points in a row and he holds to bring us to 5-5!
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 4-5 Jannik Sinner
Remarkable. Now it’s Sinner with the momentum and energy in the rallies. The Italian leaps to put away a smash to get to 30-0.
Alcaraz responds with a lovely drop shot, that Sinner nudges down the line but just out. Another twist: double fault from Sinner! 30-30!
SINNER! The World No 1 holds as he races to reach a net-cord, and flick the backhand down the line.
Three games in a row - now he leads!
Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 6-4 4-4 Jannik Sinner* - Sinner breaks!
Now then! Sinner leans into the backhand and finds a sweet strike down the line to get to 0-30.
Alcaraz then pushes long on the forehand! A bad miss, and it brings up three break points for Sinner!
Alcaraz with good aggressive play on the forhand to save the first, but he’s in a hole here.
Sinner clips the net-cord... and it lands in! Alcaraz steadies, but blasts wide!
Sinner, from nowhere, breaks back! 4-4! That was a bad, bad game from Alcaraz.
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