China Open 2024: Alcaraz storms to 200th ATP Tour win

Carlos Alcaraz has become the second-fastest man to achieve 200 wins on the ATP Tour, doing so in emphatic fashion on Sunday in Beijing with a straight-sets demolition of Tallon Griekspoor in the China Open round of 16.

Only seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe has reached the 200-win mark in fewer matches than Alcaraz.

“It was a great achievement, getting my 200th win on the ATP Tour,” said Alcaraz, who is playing in just his third year on the premier men’s tennis tour.

“I always try and wants to win every match that I played.

“Just two years and a half, more or less, being in the tour, having my 200th win is great for me.

“I just want to keep going, to keep getting more and more wins.”

Tennis betting sites had the Spaniard slated as a heavy favourite to defeat Griekspoor, yet he exceeded expectations with a 6-1, 6-2 win that lasted less than an hour.

As a result, BetOnline has shortened the second seed’s odds to win the China Open from +162 to +137.

He still sits behind world No.1 Jannik Sinner, however, who is the favourite to defend his title in Beijing at +125.

Alcaraz says Sinner investigation “not a good sign for tennis”

Alcaraz spoke in his post-match press conference about his rival, saying the recent re-opening of Sinner’s doping investigation is a big concern for the sport.

“It’s really sensitive things to Jannik and tennis in general,” he said.

“I mean, after everything was decided, before Cincinnati, the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) saying he didn’t do anything wrong, and now came again, it is open again.

“I think for tennis is not really good, not really good sign for tennis in general.

“I thought it was closed.

“This month I didn’t know what happen exactly.

“I just saw the news and it surprised me a little bit.

“OK, what’s going on that the case is open again?

“I don’t know how it’s going to be the next months.

“For sure to tennis, not a good sign.”

Next up, Alcaraz will play seventh seed Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals in Beijing.

He holds a 3-0 head-to-head record against the Russian and is a -1428.57 favourite at BetOnline to win and advance to the semi-finals.

Sinner is also a heavy favourite in his last-eight match, paying -833.33 at most tennis bookmakers to beat young Czech Jiri Lehecka on Monday.

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