Carlos Alcaraz said Jannik Sinner “played a great level of tennis” and admitted he went “mentally out” during the second set of their Beijing semifinal match. On Tuesday, No 1 seed Alcaraz’s Beijing run ended in the semifinal after sixth-seeded Sinner handed the Spaniard a 7-6 (4) 6-1 loss.
In the first set, Alcaraz was twice up by a break but he failed to hold on to his service in those moments. After losing a tight first set, Alcaraz’s game collapsed as Sinner broke the Spaniard three times in the second set en route to completing a straight-set win.
“Obviously he also played a great level of tennis, it forced me to change my game a little bit. I couldn’t do what I always do, I tried to play deeper, but I couldn’t. I tried to play with another tactic, but it didn’t go well in that part either.
This is another thing I’ll have to learn if I want to beat Jannik. Then in the second set I was mentally out, I was complaining too much, something that really makes it difficult for you to play at your best level, that’s what it means to be angry with yourself.
This is what happened,” Alcaraz said, via Punto de Break.
Alcaraz praises Sinner
Alcaraz, a two-time Grand Slam champion, has a positive record against pretty much any top players.
But against Sinner, Alcaraz actually has a losing record. Following their Beijing semifinal match, Sinner improved to 4-3 against Alcaraz. “He is a very complete player, he did almost everything well, he pushes you to the limit with every shot.
You have to hit every ball perfectly if you want to stay alive at the point. Even if you think you hit the ball very well, very well, he can even return it harder than yours. This is something he does really well, very well. The rest of it is also amazing and the service from it is very good.
It’s really difficult to play against him, I think his mobility is also very good, you have to find a way to beat him or be dangerous for his tennis. It is complicated, that is why he is one of the best in the world,” Alcaraz said.
Carlos AlcarazJannik Sinner
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