Alcaraz braces for 'war' with Medvedev in semis

Daniil Medvedev is bracing himself to face "probably the best player in the world" in Carlos Alcaraz in the China Open semifinals, after both rolled through in straight sets on Sept 30.

Spanish second seed and four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz emerged from a tense first set to defeat Russian seventh seed Karen Khachanov 7-5, 6-2 in Beijing, warning rivals afterwards: "I'm not letting my opponents show their best tennis."

Serving at 4-4 in the first set, Khachanov eventually held after a grueling game in which both players gave up multiple game points when Alcaraz put his forehand long.

It was to be only a temporary reprieve.

The 21-year-old Alcaraz had the Russian under pressure once again at 5-5 and, this time, the world No. 3 made no mistake, grabbing the break and then holding his own serve to go a set up.

Alcaraz, who recorded his 200th tour-level win on Sept 29, broke for 3-2 on the way to winning a more comfortable second set.