TOKYO: World number one Carlos Alcaraz won his eighth title of a sensational season after beating American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the Japan Open final on Tuesday.&nbsp;The Spaniard has struggled with an ankle injury this week in Tokyo but he was still too hot for the rest of the competition to handle, including world number five Fritz.&nbsp;The US Open champion gave another breathtaking display of power and athleticism to lift the trophy in his first appearance in Japan.&nbsp;He clinched victory with a cleverly disguised drop shot before strolling to the net to give Fritz a warm embrace.&nbsp;&quot;First time in Tokyo, first title here, hopefully not the last one,&quot; said the 22-year-old.&nbsp;Alcaraz injured his ankle in his opening match in Tokyo as he ran for a shot, crumpling to the ground and sitting on the court for about five minutes.&nbsp;He returned to play with heavy strapping on his ankle and admitted that the injury had been on his mind throughout the tournament.&nbsp;&quot;The start of the week was not really good with the ankle, and the way that I came back from that, playing a great tournament and great matches, I&#39;m just really happy about it,&quot; he said.&nbsp;It was the Spaniard&#39;s ninth straight final and his 10th of the season overall.&nbsp;No man since his legendary countryman Rafael Nadal in 2017 had reached 10 finals in a season.&nbsp;The win gave Alcaraz a measure of revenge after losing to Fritz for the first time at the Laver Cup in San Francisco two weeks ago.&nbsp;Alcaraz was not happy with the umpire in the final, telling him &quot;you&#39;ve never played tennis in your life&quot; during a rant between games.&nbsp;He squandered several chances to break Fritz in the first set but he made the breakthrough in the ninth game.&nbsp;That left the Spaniard serving for the set, and he sealed the deal when Fritz dumped a return into the net.&nbsp;Alcaraz kept his foot on the gas and broke his opponent to start the second set.&nbsp;He broke him again to take a 4-1 lead and continued to punish Fritz with a series of brutal forehands.&nbsp;Fritz hit back for his first break of the match but it was too little, too late as Alcaraz clinched the championship on his next service game.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s been a pleasure to be able to play here in Tokyo in front of the Japanese fans,&quot; said Alcaraz.&nbsp;&quot;I enjoyed every single second from when I stepped on the court, less the five minutes that I was on the floor with my ankle.&nbsp;&quot;The rest of the tournament, I enjoyed every single second.&quot;&nbsp;Fritz was looking to capture his third title of the season after wins at Stuttgart and Eastbourne.&nbsp;The American won the Japan Open title in 2022.&nbsp;Both Alcaraz and Fritz are in the draw for the Shanghai Masters this week.&nbsp;

Tennis

World number one Carlos Alcaraz overcame an ankle injury to beat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in Tokyo, clinching his eighth title of 2025, his first Japan Open crown, and avenging a recent Laver Cup loss.

Alcaraz beats Fritz in Tokyo for eighth title of season

Reuters

TOKYO: World number one Carlos Alcaraz overcame a foot injury scare to beat Argentina&#39;s Sebastian Baez 6- 4 6-2 on his Tokyo Open debut on Thursday, extending his sizzling run of form to reach the second round at the ATP 500 event. The 22-year-old, who reclaimed top spot after winning the US Open earlier this month, called a medical timeout at 2-2 in the opening set after jarring his left foot while stretching for a return.&nbsp;The Spaniard returned with heavy strapping but played through discomfort, breaking Baez to edge 5-4 ahead before serving out the set.&nbsp;After a brief rain suspension, Alcaraz eased past Baez without facing a break to close out the contest in an hour and a half. The victory improved his season record to 63-7, having won 48 of his last 51 matches.&nbsp;&quot;I was scared. I&#39;m not going to lie. I felt my ankle and did not feel great. I&#39;m just happy to be able to play after that,&quot; Alcaraz said.&nbsp;&quot;I will try to be ready for the next match. It was unlucky. In the first five minutes I thought I wouldn&#39;t continue.&quot;&nbsp;Alcaraz, who is aiming to become only the sixth player to win the Tokyo title while ranked world number one, will next face Belgium&#39;s Zizou Bergs.&nbsp;

World number one Carlos Alcaraz shrugged off a foot injury scare to defeat Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-2 on his Tokyo Open debut, advancing to the second round and extending his dominant season form.



Articles tagged with "CARLOS ALCARAZ"

Alcaraz beats Fritz in Tokyo for eighth title of season

Alcaraz survives injury scare, beats Baez on Tokyo debut