Andrey Rublev & Carlos Alcaraz’s Live Race opportunity in Beijing | ATP Tour

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin

Rublev & Alcaraz’s Live Race opportunity in Beijing

Sinner could extend lead

September 29, 2024

Andrey Rublev has a huge opportunity to make a move in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin this week at the China Open in Beijing and improve his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive season.

Entering his second-round match on Monday against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Rublev is seventh in the Live Race. By Wednesday, the 26-year-old could climb to fifth.

Since fifth-placed Taylor Fritz and sixth-placed Casper Ruud lost early this week in Tokyo at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships, Rublev could make up ground on his rivals. 

Rublev would pass Ruud for sixth by reaching the Beijing final (3,810 points) and Fritz for fifth by lifting the trophy (3,980 points). He could play two matches Monday, needing to complete his match against Davidovich Fokina with in-form Chinese player Buyunchaokete waiting in the quarter-finals.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin (as of 29 September)

Third-placed Carlos Alcaraz has moved within just five points of second-placed Alexander Zverev in the Live Race by advancing to the Beijing quarter-finals. He would move ahead of the German with a win in the last eight against seventh seed Karen Khachanov.

Both men are far behind first-placed Jannik Sinner, who is in good position to earn ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours. The Italian could further cement his standing by claiming an ATP Tour-leading seventh title of the season.

Sinner, Zverev and Alcaraz are the only men who have qualified for the season finale so far. The Nitto ATP Finals will be held at Inalpi Arena in Turin from 10-17 November.

Fourth-placed Daniil Medvedev is next in line to qualify and is in good position to earn his place at the year-end championships for the sixth straight season. Like Sinner and Alcaraz, he is in the Beijing quarter-finals.