BEIJING: Carlos Alcaraz barrelled into the China Open quarter-finals on Sunday in just 56 minutes as 595th-ranked Zhang Shuai extended her historic run.

Rain in Beijing played havoc with the schedule but four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz made rapid progress at the Diamond Court with a 6-1, 6-2 demolition of Tallon Griekspoor.

Alcaraz now faces seventh-seeded Karen Khachanov next after an ominous showing of intent from the 21-year-old Spaniard.

Russian Khachanov booked his place with a gruelling 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (11/9) victory over Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.

In the only other match completed on the day in the men’s draw, Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete pulled off a shock 6-2, 6-4 win over Italian sixth seed Lorenzo Musetti.

There was home joy too in the women’s draw as another wildcard, Shuai, reached the last 16 after defeating Belgium’s Greet Minnen 6-2, 6-3.

Zhang, who faced Minnen as the lowest-ranked player to reach the China Open third round in the tournament’s history, faces Poland’s 23rd seed Magdalena Frech next.

US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula survived a scare as she edged Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova 6-7 (9/11), 6-1, 6-2, to set up a meeting with Spain’s Paula Badosa.

Badosa booked her place with a straight-sets win over Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2024