Sinner leads elite seeds to into Beijing semis

Jannik Sinner pulled away to 58 wins this season as the world No. 1 paced a trio of leading seeds into the semi-finals of the China Open on Monday.

The oddly scheduled event – product of an ATP calendar experiment which has received less than rave reviews – has been extended to nearly a fortnight from its normal one-week length.

The result is a playing schedule which makes a mockery of the traditional weekend finish to tennis events.

World No. 1 Sinner, chasing his seventh title of the season and holder of a pair of 2024 Grand Slams, booked his spot in the final four 6-2, 7-6 (6) over Czech Jiri Lehecka in an hour and three quarters.

He was joined by second seed Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Daniil Medvedev. Fourth seed Andrey Rublev blew his chance to make it a quartet as he took a 7-5, 6-4 upset loss to 96th-ranked Chinese Bu Yunchaokete.

Sinner claimed his 15th match victory and leads the ATP with his 58-5 record this season as he moves into his 10th semi of 2024.

“It was a tough ending,” the Italian winner said. “I had to save two break points at 5-all; I had some chances and didn’t use them,

“Then the tiebreaker is always tricky, anything can happen there. I’m happy with how I handled the situation.

“But I can still improve a couple of things. I hope tomorrow I will feel even better on the court. I’m happy to be in the next round.”

Alcaraz posted a 7-5, 6-2 defeat of Karen Khachanov in 96 minutes.

The Spaniard, who has won his last seven matches, will face third seed Medvedev in the Tuesday semis.

“I can’t complain at all. I know that I have to keep trying. I’m hitting the ball really well, I’m moving well, and I’m not letting my opponents show their best tennis,” he said.

Sinner is defending the Beijing title while Alcaraz lost to the italian in the 2023 semis-finals.

Medvedev earned his last-four place as he defeated Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-4 as he looks for his first title this season.

“It’s always difficult facing Medvedev,” said Alcaraz. “I played great matches against him earlier this year and during the past couple of years. 

“I’m ready to take that challenge, to try to play my best tennis to pass him. It’s always a war. Long matches, long rallies, when I play against him, but I’m ready for the challenge.”