Jannik Sinner advanced to the China Open final against Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday, despite the raging controversy surrounding his steroid conviction and his home fans. To prevent a dramatic upset, the reigning champion and number one in the world overcame Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete, rated 96th, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). In the other semi-final, the Italian takes on second-seeded Spanish player Alcaraz, who defeated third-seeded Russian player Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3.
US Open champion Sinner was playing in his greatest match of his life against a player he had never encountered before in front of an enthusiastic crowd on China's national day. Bu, a 22-year-old from China, was also playing at his best after making it to the semi-finals in Hangzhou last week. Early in the opening set, Bu put pressure on Sinner's serve, but Sinner repelled the attack, and as the game progressed, the storm eventually passed. After just over two hours, Sinner converted his third match point with an ace to send the match to a tie break. Sinner, a 23-year-old who failed two drug tests in March but was found not guilty and permitted to continue playing, has won more matches than anybody else on the circuit this season. Tennis officials accepted Sinner's account that a physiotherapist who treated a cut with a spray containing an illegal steroid accidentally put traces of the drug into his system, which he subsequently used for massage and sports treatment.
On Saturday, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reopened the case, stating that it had filed an appeal and was requesting a two-year ban. One of the tournament's main plotlines, 595th-ranked home favourite Zhang Shuai, made further history in the women's draw when she advanced to the quarterfinals. She defeated Magdalena Frech 6-4, 6-2 to record her fourth victory in Beijing, all of which came in straight sets. Prior to the tournament, she had lost 24 straight singles matches.The more than 600-day dry period was the second-longest barren run on the WTA Tour during the Open Era, which started in 1968. Zhang, 35, a chronically injured former two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist, revealed that she was on the verge of giving up singles tennis before travelling to Beijing.
