Alcaraz ends Sinner's winning streak in a thrilling encounter and secures victory at the China Open | tennis

Carlos Alcaraz ended Jannik Sinner's winning streak and took the China Open title in Beijing after another exciting encounter between the two young stars.

Sinner went into the final on a 15-match winning streak after winning his second Grand Slam trophy of the season at the US Open, but it was Alcaraz who prevailed 6-7, (6), 6-4, 7- 6 came out on top (3) after three hours and 21 minutes.

The Spaniard now has a 6-4 lead over his great rival in the head-to-head clash after hitting 55 winners and playing a stunning final tiebreak.

“It was a really close game,” Alcaraz said. “Jannik has shown once again that he is the best player in the world, at least for me the level he plays is incredible.

“I had my chances in the first set, but I didn’t make it. But overall I'm proud of myself for the way I mastered the game, the way I mastered everything.

“I'm really happy that we succeeded in the third set. Even though he broke my serve again and it was really close, I gave myself the chance to keep going, play aggressively and I'm really happy I did it.”

Alcaraz has found his game again in recent weeks after a surprise second-round loss at the US Open and was electric at the start of the competition.

He built a 5-2 lead in the opening set, but Sinner responded with a break against Alcaraz when he served for it, and the world number one then saved three set points before going into a tiebreak.

It was another example of the mental strength Sinner has shown this season, but it was Alcaraz who prevailed in the second set, saving two break points in a long eighth game before overcoming his opponent and leveling the match.

The momentum was now back with the 21-year-old, who had won both meetings against his rival this season, and he applied even more pressure in the early stages of the decider.

After breaking Sinner to take a 2-1 lead, Alcaraz had two more chances in the fifth game but failed to capitalize, and in a repeat of the opening game the top seed came back.

It was fitting that the fight came down to a decisive tiebreak and Sinner appeared to have the upper hand as he took a 3-0 lead, but Alcaraz responded in impressive fashion with seven points in a row.

In Shanghai, Briton Dan Evans, who had survived qualifying, lost a crucial first-round tiebreaker 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3) to Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild.