Alcaraz Beats Sinner in Beijing Final. Tennis’ Evolving Net Play Strategy

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in a thrilling three-set match (6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3)) to win the China Open final in Beijing.

This match was a showcase of the evolving game of tennis, particularly highlighting how both players approached the net aggressively. They collectively approached the net more than 100 times, yet over 60% of these points were resolved before a volley was hit, reflecting the modern style of “approach and no volley.” Both players used powerful, spin-heavy approach shots to finish points before giving their opponents a chance to counter.

Key stats from the match showed that Alcaraz hit 58% of his approaches without needing a volley, while Sinner did so 74% of the time. Alcaraz notably utilized 11 return approaches, winning eight of those points, a tactic that kept Sinner under constant pressure.

The stats underlines how both players are redefining point construction in tennis by frequently moving forward to finish points while minimizing extended net exchanges. The power and precision of their approach shots made volleys almost unnecessary, signaling a shift in modern tennis strategy.