Alcaraz confirms rise to world No 2 upon reaching China Open semi-finals
The Spaniard defeated Karen Khachanov in straight sets on Monday
© Manu Fernandez/AP/SIPA
Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the second seed, reached the last four of the China Open by beating Russian Karen Khachanov, the No 7 seed, 7-5, 6-2 at the Olympic Green Tennis Center in Beijing on Monday night.
Alcaraz and Khachanov fought closely in the opening set, exchanging breaks in the fifth and sixth games, however, the former edged out with additional break in 11th game.
The Spaniard hit top gear in the second set, converting two break points on Khachanov’s serve to secure the match in an hour, 37 minutes.
Alcaraz, the world No 3, registered an average of 76 percent on first serve points and 68 percent on the second, hitting 26 winners and two aces.
With the win, the four-time Grand Slam champion recovered all his ranking points from his 2023 run to the semi-finals in Beijing and confirmed his rise to world No 2 in the ATP rankings for the next week.
He will dethrone Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who skipped the China Open, taking a 170-point hit to his rankings tally.
Alcaraz to face Medvedev next
Alcaraz, the seed No 2, will face Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No 3 seed, next.
It will be the 21-year-old’s eighth match-up with Medvedev on tour. He leads the head-to-head 5-2, with his most recent wins against the Russian coming in the 2024 Indian Wells final and Wimbledon semi-finals.
Ahead of his victory, the Spaniard won against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (6-4, 6-4) and Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (6-1, 6-2).
Khachanov, ranked No 27, defeated Spanish lucky loser Roberto Carballes Baena (6-4, 6-4) and Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (7-6 (4), 7-6 (9)) earlier in the tournament.
Beijing ATP 500, other quarter-finals results (Olympic Green Tennis Center, hard, USD 3.720.165, most recent results first):
- Andrey Rublev vs. Yunchaokete Bu
- Jannik Sinner vs. Jiri Lehecka
- Daniil Medvedev beat Flavio Cobolli: 6-2, 6-4
