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.
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin October 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin October 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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