DPA
Beijing
Carlos Alcaraz sealed a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Karen Khachanov on Monday to reach the semi-finals at the ATP tournament in Beijing.
The second seed, who rises to second in the world rankings, will play Daniil Medvedev in the semi after the Russian dealt with Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-4 as he eyes a first title of the year.
Alcaraz said: “I always try to be aggressive, hitting strong shots, and I feel like I’m not afraid to show that.”
The Spaniard also made the last four last year but lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner, who won his quarter-final against Kiri Lehecka 6-4 7-5 amid the backdrop of his anti-doping affair.
Fourth seed Andrey Rublev had a busy day, completing his last-16 win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina before tiredness kicked in and he was outgunned by Chinese wild card Bu Yunchaokete 7-5, 6-4 in the last eight.
It was one of the biggest wins by a Chinese man against a seed on the ATP Tour for many years and he now faces world number one Sinner.
In the women’s tournament, top seed Aryna Sabalenka cruised through to the last 16 with a 6-2, 6-2 win over America’s Ashlyn Krueger.
The Australian Open and US Open champion won her 14th straight match following on from her success in Cincinnati in August and at the New York Grand Slam.
“Maybe right now I’m not playing my best, best tennis,” Sabalenka said.
“But I think the way I’m controlling my emotions and the way I’m holding myself is sometimes really helping me to stay in most of the matches.”
Sabalenka will face Madison Keys for a place in the quarters after she out-fought Seoul champion Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3, 6-3.
Naomi Osaka meanwhile set up a fourth-round showdown with Coco Gauff.
Over in Tokyo, the final of the men’s Japan Open will have a French feel on Tuesday after Arthur Fils and Ugo Humbert battled past sixth seed Holger Rune and Tomas Machac respectively.
The Shanghai Masters starts on Wednesday.
