![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/sport\/sport-135x135.png\")
<\/p>\nCarlos Alcaraz downed Casper Ruud <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz and Italian Jannik Sinner set up yet another instalment in their blossoming rivalry with quarter-final wins over Casper Ruud and Grigor Dimitrov respectively at the China Open.<\/p>\n
Alcaraz beat Ruud 6-4 6-2 in straight sets to maintain his perfect record against the Norwegian to seal a spot in the semi-final, while Sinner had to dig deep and overcome illness to clinch a 6-4 3-6 6-2 win over Bulgaria\u2019s Dimitrov.<\/p>\n
\u201cA very tough evening, the level was really high,\u201d Sinner said in his on-court interview. \u201cI didn\u2019t feel very good, maybe I ate something wrong. At one point I also threw up a little, but I\u2019m happy with how I handled the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Second seed Daniil Medvedev overcame a mid-match wobble to beat Ugo Humbert 6-4 3-6 6-1 and move into the semi-finals, where he will face Alexander Zverev in their fifth meeting this season.<\/p>\n
Medvedev has been a model of consistency on hardcourts this year with titles in Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai and Miami and though the Russian world No 3 was not at his dominant best he battled past Humbert for his 41st win of 2023 on the surface.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/s3fs-public\/thumbnails\/image\/2019\/04\/30\/19\/Justin-Gimelstob.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/29\/08\/10889054.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/27\/09\/newFile-5.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy that I managed to raise my level in important moments, except a game in the second set,\u201d Medvedev said. \u201cIt\u2019s great that I managed to still find in this tough match these moments of consistency, which is enough to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what you have to do. I\u2019m happy to be in the semi-finals. When you come to the tournament, you always want to go as far as possible. Happy to still be here tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe further we go, the tougher the matches, the tougher the opponents. That\u2019s normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/10\/02\/18\/SEI174260061.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Medvedev continued his run in Beijing <\/p>\n
Chengdu champion Zverev, who is rediscovering his best form after a serious ankle injury last year, extended his winning run to seven matches with a 6-1 6-7(5) 6-3 win over Chile\u2019s Nicolas Jarry. The 10th-ranked German has lost three times to Medvedev this year but flipped the script in their last meeting in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems like we have to play each other every tournament this year. It\u2019s the fifth time we\u2019re going to play each other,\u201d Zverev said. \u201cEvery time we play, it\u2019s a battle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to what\u2019s to come. He\u2019s playing great tennis. I hope I can bring my A game.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s tournament, US Open winner Coco Gauff roared to victory in her first match as a grand slam champion, as the American downed Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5 6-3.<\/p>\n
Fresh from her triumph in Ningbo last week, world No 7 Ons Jabeur eased past 19-year-old Osaka champion Ashlyn Krueger 6-3 6-4. The Tunisian, who is looking to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals, plays Marta Kostyuk in the second round.<\/p>\n
World No 2 Iga Swiatek also powered into the second round on her Beijing debut with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Spain\u2019s Sara Sorribes Tormo. The Pole was particularly effective at the net, winning 15 out of 17 points, and next meets Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday I felt really confident and comfortable because I\u2019ve been practising that a lot,\u201d Swiatek said. \u201cI\u2019m pretty proud of my performance at the net because, technically, I feel like my volley has changed. I\u2019m really happy with that.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI think against some players it\u2019s necessary to go to the net and today that was that kind of a match.\u201d<\/p>\n