“Congratulations to Carlos Alcaraz for winning the men’s singles title at the 2024 China Open!” The cheers resonated through the arena as the tournament’s second seed and four-time Grand Slam champion, Carlos Alcaraz, celebrated his victory with a triumphant fist pump, marking his first title at this prestigious event.
The final, which took place on October 2, lasted an epic 3 hours and 21 minutes, making it the longest men’s singles match in the history of the China Open. Alcaraz faced reigning champion and world number one Jannik Sinner, both of whom are seen as the leading figures in men’s tennis today.
Born in 2001 and 2003 respectively, Sinner and Alcaraz have each secured two Grand Slam titles this season, stepping into the spotlight as the torch passes from the previous generation of tennis legends such as Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic.
The pair have met nine times in Grand Slam and ATP Tour matches, with Alcaraz edging Sinner 5 to 4. This final was their tenth encounter and only the third time the top two seeds faced each other in the China Open men’s singles final, following Nadal vs. Coria in 2005 and Djokovic vs. Nadal in 2013.
The highly anticipated showdown began with exhilarating moments right from the start. Alcaraz broke Sinner’s serve in the fourth game, taking an early 5-2 lead. But Sinner responded, breaking back in the ninth game and saving a set point in the twelfth, ultimately clinching the first set 8-6 in a tiebreaker.
The second set was a rollercoaster of momentum. After eight deuces in the eighth game, Alcaraz managed to hold serve and then quickly broke Sinner, leveling the match at one set each.
Moving into the deciding set, the tension mounted as it also led to a tiebreak. Surprisingly, Alcaraz fell behind 3-0 but then surged back, scoring seven consecutive points to win the tiebreak 7-3 and secure the match.
Beyond the high-level competition, the contrasting personalities of these “twin stars” added a captivating dynamic to the game. Sinner, standing at 6’3″ from Northern Italy, possesses a lean physique and a machine-like precision in his shots, maintaining an air of calm regardless of the score. Alcaraz, on the other hand, displays a more muscular build and a flamboyant playing style, often engaging the crowd after executing impressive shots.
Despite the chilly 50°F temperature, the fans brought immense energy, cheering in multiple languages—“Forza Jannik!” and “Vamos Carlos!” echoed vibrantly as each player scored points, filling the arena with applause.
As the match ended, cameras captured a touching moment with Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, in tears. In the post-match press conference, Alcaraz noted how significant this victory was, acknowledging the effort behind it.
Reflecting on his earlier challenges just two months prior, where he suffered a disappointing loss to Djokovic at the men’s singles final of the Paris Olympics and early exits at the ATP Cincinnati Masters and US Open, Alcaraz shared, “I was a bit down after the North American season and didn’t even want to pick up a racquet for a while. After many discussions with my coach, I realized I needed to strengthen both my body and mentality to meet challenges head-on. We’ve worked hard on and off the court for moments like today.” He added, “Competing against Sinner is a pleasure. Winning against the best players solidifies that I’m on the right track.”
Sinner offered his perspective, saying, “The margins are fine but they truly shape the match’s outcome. Each encounter pushes us to our limits. It’s an honor to compete against Alcaraz, and I’m sure we’ll meet in many more finals together.”
Later that night, around 11 PM, Sinner’s coach posted a photo on social media showing both players sitting together with their teams on the same flight. The two young stars were all smiles, with Alcaraz flashing a peace sign for the camera. After the China Open final, they were headed overnight to Shanghai for the ATP Shanghai Masters.
“This is the best tennis match of the year,” many fans commented. “They are rivals, but also friends.”
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