Jannik Sinner continued his impressive run at the Shanghai Masters, adding to Carlos Alcaraz’s woes with a thrilling victory in the quarterfinals. The Italian star defeated Alcaraz in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-3, sending the world number two crashing out of the tournament and extending his recent struggles.
Coming into the match, Alcaraz was looking to rebound from his third-round exit in Beijing, but Sinner had other plans. The two young stars, both considered the future of men’s tennis, put on a show for the crowd, with powerful rallies and brilliant shot-making. However, it was Sinner who stayed composed in key moments, particularly in the first-set tiebreak, where he took control and never looked back.
Sinner’s ability to outlast Alcaraz in the baseline exchanges and dictate the tempo of the match proved decisive. His win marks his second consecutive victory over Alcaraz, further establishing himself as one of the few players capable of challenging the young Spaniard.
“Carlos is an incredible player, and every time we play, it’s a battle,” Sinner said after the match. “I’m happy with how I handled the pressure today, especially in the big moments.”
For Alcaraz, the defeat is a continuation of a tough period in his season. After winning Wimbledon earlier in the year, the 20-year-old has struggled to maintain the same level of dominance, facing early exits in recent tournaments. Despite his frustrations, Alcaraz remained optimistic, saying, “I’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
With the victory, Sinner advances to the semifinals, where he is now seen as one of the top contenders for the Shanghai Masters title.
