Top tennis journalist criticizes ATP Tour scheduling as China Open finalists Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner face ‘huge’ dilemma ahead of Shanghai Masters
In less than 48 hours, both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will be playing their opening match in Shanghai after the China Open final.
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Images via X)
Carlos Alcaraz won’t have the time to celebrate his victory in Beijing as in less than 48 hours after clinching the China Open, he will be playing his first match in Shanghai for the ATP 1000 Masters event. Jannik Sinner, who was the runner-up, will also be flying to Shanghai. Top tennis journalist Jose Morgado slammed the ATP Tour’s “unhealthy” tennis scheduling.
The match between the top two seeds took more than three hours to conclude as both of them gave each other tough competition and it was difficult to predict the winner beforehand. When they played the tie-break in the third set, Alcaraz was 0-3, but he clinched seven consecutive points to deny Sinner the chance to defend his title as the 21-year-old went on to claim his first China Open title.
Alcaraz will now gear up for the Shanghai Masters. He has received a bye and will play his Round of 64 on Friday (October 4) against home favorite Shang Juncheng. Sinner, on the other hand, will be up against Japanese veteran Taro Daniel on the same day.
Both Carlos Alcaraz (vs. Shang!) and Jannik Sinner (Daniel) will have to play their first matches in Shanghai… in less than 48 hours. That’s unhealthy and actually almost pathetic for tennis as an organization.
Jose Morgado wrote on X
Check his tweet here:
Hearing that both Sinner and Alcaraz may get a Saturday start in Shanghai despite their half of the draw playing all on Friday.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 2, 2024
In that case they would play R2 on Saturday and R3 on Sunday.
Carlos Alcaraz lauds Jannik Sinner’s game after China Open victory
Jannik Sinner was just one step away from taking his seventh ATP Tour title. Carlos Alcaraz, however, not only broke the Italian’s 15-match winning streak but also clinched his fifth title of the season (fourth on the ATP Tour and the Paris Olympics silver medal). After the match, Alcaraz had nothing but praise for the World No.1 for the way he has been playing this season.
It was a really close match. Jannik showed once again that he’s the best player in the world. At least for me, the level that he’s playing is unbelievable. I had my chances in the first set but didn’t make it. But in general, I’m proud of myself with the way that I dealt with the match, the way that I managed everything.
Carlos Alcaraz said in his post-match interview
Before landing in Beijing, Sinner emerged victorious at the Cincinnati Masters and won his second Grand Slam title at the US Open. Apart from the US Open, Sinner also won the Australian Open this year, while the rest of the two Grand Slams were won by Alcaraz.
Gouri Das
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