Alcaraz sees off Medvedev to set up Sinner final

Carlos Alcaraz will play Jannik Sinner in the China Open final after cruising past Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.

The world number three needed 88 minutes to seal a 7-5 6-3 win.

It is Alcaraz's eighth successive victory since his shock second-round defeat by Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open.

World number one and defending champion Sinner reached the final with a straight-set win over Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete.

In a tight first set Alcaraz and Medvedev failed to hold serve for four games in a row to leave it finely poised at 4-4.

Spaniard Alcaraz broke again in the 10th game before holding serve to take the first set in 48 minutes.

Medvedev needed two medical timeouts for treatment on his left leg as Alcaraz took control of the second set, sealing victory with his fourth match point.

"It was a little bit unusual, with serve being broken many times in the first set," said Alcaraz. "I don't know what happened to me. I probably lost focus a little bit.

"I'm really happy that I didn't lose my focus too long in the first set. I recovered it as soon as I got broken, and I'm really happy that at the end of the set I was able to play really good tennis."

Sinner needed a little over two hours to beat world number 96 Yunchaokete as he seeks a seventh ATP Tour title in 2024.

The 23-year-old Italian has won 14 successive matches going back to the start of the Cincinnati Open in August, taking in a US Open triumph at Indian Wells.

He has also claimed 50 consecutive wins against players outside of the world’s top 20.

Elsewhere, Britain's Dan Evans beat Alex Bolt of Australia 6-2 1-6 7-5 in the final round of qualifying for the Shanghai Masters.

The world number 176, who is the only British player in the draw, will play Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil in the first round on Wednesday.

Compatriot Jack Draper withdrew from the event on Monday because of an abdominal injury.