BEIJING/WASHINGTON, October 1, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz needed just 81 minutes to power his way past Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-2 for his ATP-leading 60th win of the 2023 season at the China Open in Beijing Sunday.
The top-seeded Spaniard struck 18 winners and broke the 18th-ranked Musetti’s serve four times by utilizing his commanding and explosive groundstroke attack to his advantage. It was his second win in three career meetings against the 21-year-old Italian.
The victory at the National Tennis Centre improved Alcaraz to 16-1 lifetime in ATP 500 competition, which has included two titles at this level, on clay in Barcelona and on grass at The Queen’s Club in London, both earlier this season. Alcaraz has won a tour-leading six titles in 2023.
Carlos Alcaraz advances into quarterfinals!!! 6-2/6-2 over Musetti. #2023ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/Rgb7AHea31
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 1, 2023
“Today was a perfect match for me,” the 20-year-old from Murcia, Spain said. “You can improve and be better every day but I was proud of my tennis playing at this level. I played high quality, great shots and a great return game. It was a great match and I enjoyed playing today. I enjoy China.”
Alcaraz, who saved all three break points he faced, won nearly half of his return points and outpointed Musetti 55-40. “A goal of mine was to start strong,” he said. “Try to push him to the limit at the start. Trying to dominate the match, not make him feel comfortable. Move him and not let him hit his shots.”
60 WINS ON THE YEAR 😤@carlosalcaraz dispatches Musetti 6-2 6-2 to reach the Beijing quarters!#ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/Wtv11JGRn4
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 1, 2023
Coupled with an earlier win on Friday over German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, also in straight sets, Alcaraz is safely through to the quarterfinal round against No. 7 seed Casper Ruud of Norway, who edged past No. 31 Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7) in two hours and 59 minutes, after trailing 0-4 in the third-set tie-break.
What a rollercoaster🎢
Casper Ruud beats Etcheverry in a three-set thriller. 1-6/7-5/7-6(7)! #2023ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/EOG0Ba5q25— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 1, 2023
“It was not the best start,” Ruud admitted. “I was struggling a bit with the shade and the sun at the beginning. I got a good start in the second set. I broke him right away and that was what I needed to get the match going two really tight sets that went in my favor but I am really happy. It was a really tough battle.”
Also advancing to the quarterfinal round was sixth seed Jannik Sinner of Italy. The World No. 7 needed just 67 minutes to defeat No. 38 Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan, 6-2, 6-0, to earn his 46th victory of 2023 and reach his 12th quarterfinal of the season.
“Today I played well. Maybe on serve I have to improve a little bit, the percentage, but I think all the rest was really good today,” Sinner said.
No mercy 🦊@janniksin flies into the China Open quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-0 victory over Yoshihito Nishioka.@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/SLxtPqQvVa
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2023
Next, Sinner will face No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, who upset No. 3 seed Holger Rune of Denmark, 6-3, 7-5, in an hour and 31 minutes. Dimitrov hit 18 winners and took advantage of 30 unforced errors by the World No. 4. It was the Bulgarian’s first Top-5 triumph in nearly two years.
In the other half of the draw, advancing to the quarterfinals on Saturday were: No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia, No. 8 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany and unseeded Nicolas Jarry of Chile and Ugo Humbert of France.
