Quick thinking on his feet is exactly what Carlos Alcaraz has adhered to at the China Open. After commencing his Asian hardcourt campaign against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, a fair share of drama was witnessed after he engaged in a heated exchange with a chair umpire. This season, the ATP 500 event is using an automatic shot clock. As a result, Alcaraz received two-time violations while executing his first serve on an advantage point. This elicited a strong reaction from the Spaniard, with calls to plead his case.

“I’m always very quick. I never get warnings. You gave me two in one set. It’s impossible to play tennis like this.” Regardless, he maintained his composure and bagged the contest 6-4, 6-4. In a post-match presser, the Spanish star cleared his reservations saying: “Yes, absolutely. I mean, he told me that there is a new rule, this new thing, that the clock never stops. After the point is finished, the clock is putting on.”

Despite iterating his thoughts on pleading his case for a reformation to the ATP officials, Alcaraz found himself entrapped in a similar situation in his second-round match-up against Tallon Griekspoor. But the four-time Grand Slam champion sought a better alternative this time around.

To much hilarity, the 21-year-old mustered up his clever side to evade another time violation sanction. To save himself both time and trouble, Alcaraz combined a towel request and a ‘Vamos'(“let’s go”) gesture in the same go. Amusing scenes in Beijing indeed. Not only that, the second set cast aside the Dutch sensation’s challenge, 6-1, 6-2, and booked a spot in the event’s third round.

Occasional controversies apart, the Spaniard rarely stops scripting better records for his already impeccable resume.

Carlos Alcaraz registers 200th tour-level win in Beijing

Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz has tasked himself to further his list of career achievements.With his latest victory over Griekspoor, the Spaniard, collected his 200th win on the circuit. Not just this, he “became the third player born in the 2000s to achieve this feat, joining Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime.”

For those unaware, Alcaraz’s 100th tour-level victory also came against the same man – Griekspoor, in the 2023 at the BNP Paribas Open. Moreover, with this win, Alcaraz solidified his H2H against Griekspoor, 4-0.

“I’m really happy about it – 200 wins is a great number,” Alcaraz said of his latest achievement. “But I am already looking for the third hundred. I just want to keep going, to keep rolling. I am looking forward to playing matches and to keep doing the things that I am doing.” 

Next up, the Spaniard will square off against Karen Khachanov for a place in the last four. Both players will try their luck as they take on the courts on September 30.