China Open: Alcaraz storms into final with a straight-sets victory over Medvedev

Associated Press Beijing: Third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz's athleticism was again on show as he advanced to the final of the China Open with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday. “I felt great on the court once again, so I'm really happy about it,” Alcaraz said. “I think I couldn't ask for a better semifinal.” The four-time Grand Slam champion including this year's French Open and Wimbledon extended his head-to-head record against the Russian to 6-2.

Alcaraz will play either top-ranked Jannik Sinner or Chinese wild card Bu Yunchaokete, who play later Tuesday, in the final. The 21-year-old Spaniard found his way through a testing first set that had five breaks of serve, but crucially it was Alcaraz's third service break in the 12th game that secured the set. With the confidence of a set lead, Alcaraz accelerated and Medvedev had no answers as the Spaniard wrapped up the semifinal in 88 minutes. Alcaraz has now won eight straight matches — across the Davis Cup, Laver Cup and in Beijing — since his loss to Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round at the U.S. Open. Pegula crashes outPaula Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over U.S. Open finalist Jessica Pegula at the China Open to reach her eighth career quarterfinal at a WTA 1000-level event.

From 3-1 down in the opening set, former No. 2-ranked Badosa dominated in her first-ever win over third-ranked Pegula. “She's one the of the players I never want to face -- she's very solid, hits very flat, changes very well direction,” said Badosa, who was 0-3 previously against Pegula. “I prepared myself for a battle, but I think today everything worked pretty well. “Every point was very important for me, especially against Jessica, because she can come back at any moment." Badosa next faces 35-year-old Chinese player Zhang Shuai, who continued her resurgence with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Magdalena Frech of Poland.