Carlos Alcaraz staged an exciting comeback to reach the Japan Open final, beating Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Monday. The world No. 1 Spanish star notched his 66th win of the season, topping his personal best from 2023 and chasing an eighth title after his recent US Open triumph.
Alcaraz, who’s been on fire all year, now faces second-seeded American Taylor Fritz in the championship match—his 10th final of the season. This showdown marks the first time since 2011 that the top two seeds have clashed in a Japan Open final, just like Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray did back then. Alcaraz also became the first player since the 1990s to reach nine straight tour finals.
The match against Ruud tested Alcaraz’s grit. He dropped the first set for the first time in the tournament, echoing Ruud’s straight-sets victory over him at last year’s ATP Finals. Frustrated by Ruud’s steady play over more than two hours, Alcaraz struggled to break serve early on. But he regrouped in the second set, firing 11 aces and turning the tide.
“It was a very tough match,” Alcaraz said, as quoted by Olympics.com. “I couldn’t take the opportunities in the first set. Emotionally, it was really hard to deal with everything, but I’m just really happy to turn it around. I’m excited to be in another final.”
The 22-year-old explained his mindset shift: “I was playing well, so it was just about telling myself a few things and trying to be better. I calmed down, saw everything clearer, and went for it. I had four break points in the first set, so I knew more chances would come. I stayed strong and talked positively to myself—that was the key.”
Looking ahead to Fritz, whom he lost to recently at the Laver Cup—ending a 13-match winning streak—Alcaraz knows the challenge. The two even practiced together when they arrived in Japan. Fritz won the Japan Open in 2022 and brings high confidence.
“He’s a really difficult player to face,” Alcaraz said. “He’s improved a lot. I just came from San Francisco after losing to him, so practicing with him gave me good feedback on how to approach the match. His level is high right now—he’s solid, aggressive, and full of confidence. I’m excited for the challenge, and we’ll see tomorrow.”
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