Carlos Alcaraz triumphed over Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands with a score of 6-1, 6-2 at the China Open on Sunday, marking his 200th career tour victory. At 21, Alcaraz has now joined Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime as players born in the 2000s to reach this milestone. The Spaniard won all of his first-serve points (23 out of 23) and needed just 57 minutes to overcome Griekspoor, who managed only two winners against 24 unforced errors.
In the quarterfinals, second-seeded Alcaraz will face Russian Karen Khachanov, who endured a tough match against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, ultimately winning 7-6 (4), 7-6 (9). Despite making 22 unforced errors, the seventh-seeded Khachanov secured the victory with 17 winners.
Chinese wild card Bu Yunchaokete caused an upset by defeating sixth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 6-2, 6-4. Meanwhile, top seed Jannik Sinner of Italy and third-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia are also set to compete in the quarterfinals in Beijing on Monday.
Sixth seed Holger Rune from Denmark eliminated local favourite Kei Nishikori 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinals held in Tokyo. During their two-hour and sixteen-minute match, Rune faced a match point but ultimately prevailed. Nishikori is a two-time champion in Tokyo. Despite committing 46 unforced errors, Rune managed to convert four out of nine break points.
Joining Rune in the semifinals are Czech Tomas Machac, as well as Frenchmen Arthur Fils and Ugo Humbert. Fils caused an upset by defeating eighth seed Ben Shelton 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2) in a gruelling three-hour contest. Fils hit 58 winners and secured an impressive 86 percent on his first serves, winning 60 out of 70 points. Although American Shelton saved 15 of 19 break points, he equalled Fils’ 49 unforced errors and achieved 34 winners.
Machac claimed victory with a 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over American Alex Michelsen. Humbert advanced after Britain’s Jack Draper retired due to injury while trailing by a set and a game.
