By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday September 30 2024
Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev will battle for a spot in the Beijing final on Tuesday.
Photo Source: TTV
Carlos Alcaraz stretched his winning streak to seven and reached his second consecutive Beijing semifinal on Monday in the Chinese Capital, battling past Russia’s Karen Khachanov 7-5, 6-2 to set a clash with former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev.
“It’s always a war, long matches long rallies – I’m ready to take that challenge,” he said of facing Medvedev for the third time in 2024 (Alcaraz leads the pair’s head-to-head 5-2 overall).
Alcaraz had to overcome a ferocious push by Khachanov in the opening set. He squandered an early break lead but rallied to break again for 6-5 before closing the 58 minute set out.
He was dominant in the second set as he improved to 4-0 against the hard-hitting World No.27. Alcaraz has now won all nine of the pair’s sets.
Alcaraz has had success against Medvedev as well. The Spaniard has won both previous meetings in 2024 with Medvedev, and taken three straight since he lost to the Russian in the semifinals at the US Open in 2023.
Medvedev, a runner-up in Beijing, battled past Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-4. He lost to Alcaraz at Indian Wells and Wimbledon this year, and one just one set across those two defeats.
"When he's in the zone, he's probably the best player in the world," Medvedev said. "Tough to play him. I feel like now he's in the zone. So it great test for me. I'm going to see how I go out there tomorrow, what tactic, what do I believe in, and I'm going to go for it."
Medvedev played several stunning defensive points in the second set as he held off the 32nd-ranked Italian.
28-year-old is also into his sixth semifinal of 2024, and he has yet to win a title.
21-year-old Alcaraz has three titles this season – at Indian Wells, Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.
With his victory over Khachanov, Alcaraz assured himself of a return to No.2 in next week’s rankings, as he’ll leapfrog Alexander Zverev in the Race to Turin.