Alcaraz is the favourite to take the title in the absence of world number one Novak Djokovic, and is hoping to use his time in China to close the gap on the Serbian at the top of the ATP rankings. In a ferociously physical match that lasted almost two-and-a-half hours, the 33rd-ranked Evans gave as good as he got against the Spaniard, leading by three games in the first set.
\nBut over the course of prolonged and sometimes scrappy rallies that left spectators gasping and groaning, the world number two gradually assumed control, comprehensively winning the first-set tiebreaker.
\n\u201cThat was probably one of the toughest matches I\u2019ve played this year,\u201d said the 20-year-old Alcaraz after the match.
\n\u201cI tried to stay all the time there, waiting for my opportunities. I had to stay strong mentally, stay strong physically… I\u2019m really happy with the level that I played.\u201d
\nAlcaraz will next play Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who earlier overcame a torrential downpour and a well-matched opponent in Russian Karen Khachanov to win 7-6 (8\/6), 6-4.
\nThe match had to be suspended at 6-6 in the first set after the heavens opened and doused centre court.
\nPool shrinking
\nAlcaraz\u2019s pool of main rivals got smaller on Sunday when defending champion Daniil Medvedev suffered a shock defeat at the hands of 26th-ranked American Sebastian Korda.
\nBut Jannik Sinner, who knocked Alcaraz out of the China Open semi-finals in Beijing last week, has already clinched his fourth-place spot.
\nHe will play the United States\u2019 Ben Shelton in the evening session on Tuesday.
\nMedvedev is not the only surprise exit, with wildcard Diego Schwartzman knocking out world number eight Taylor Fritz in a thrilling third-set tiebreaker on Monday.
\nThe diminutive Argentinian has seen his ranking slide from eighth in the world to 130th, but played his best tennis to topple Fritz 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7\/5).
\nThe rankings and age gaps were hardly noticeable over a three-hour skirmish which saw 31-year-old Schwartzman playing up to the crowd, encouraging them to whoop and cheer for him.
\nIn contrast, an error-prone Fritz seemed increasingly flustered, pinging his racket off the ground in irritation at one point.
\nWhen the 25-year-old American hit the ball into the net to seal his defeat, Schwartzman threw both arms in the air and screamed for joy.
\n\u201cI think it was a great match,\u201d the Argentinian said at the end, profusely thanking the tournament organisers for giving him the wildcard and saying it had improved what was \u201cnot his best year\u201d.
\nThere was heartbreak for French 19-year-old Arthur Fils, who came from a set down against world number 12 Tommy Paul to win a tiebreaker in the second set.
\nThe emerging star — who won his maiden ATP Tour title in Lyon this year — started strong in the third set, breaking Paul\u2019s serve to win the first game.
\nThe players were level at the eighth game, but the American snatched the last two to win 6-4, 6-7 (7\/9), 6-4.
\nFils\u2019 compatriot Adrian Mannarino was dismissed 6-3, 6-0 by world number seven Andrey Rublev in just an hour.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Alcaraz is the favourite to take the title in the absence of world number one Novak Djokovic, and is hoping to use his time in China to close the gap on the Serbian at the top of the ATP rankings. In a ferociously physical match that lasted almost two-and-a-half hours, the 33rd-ranked Evans gave as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":360624,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-360604","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n