Carlos Alcaraz Reaches Japan Open Final After Victory Over Casper Ruud

Carlos Alcaraz has advanced to the Japan Open final in Tokyo. Photo credit: Issei Kato/Reuters.

Carlos Alcaraz again proves why he deserves the world No. 1 ranking in men’s tennis. The Spaniard made a significant step toward the final at the Japan Open in Tokyo after a tense duel with Casper Ruud.

In the decisive match, Alcaraz withstood the endurance of his resilient opponent: after dropping the first set 3–6, he managed to rally and prevail 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, earning a place in the final against American Taylor Fritz in Tokyo on Tuesday.

This victory brought his total number of wins for the season to 66, the highest single-season figure of his career (previous record: 65 wins in 2023).

A Look at the Final and Expectations for the Fritz Match

At the outset of the clash, Alcaraz did not look fully in form due to a minor ankle injury, and his opponent tried to take advantage.

However, like a true champion, he remained calm and became more aggressive in the second set, maintaining the momentum until the end of the match.

Attention to detail is key: I tried to be more positive than in the first set.

Although his semifinal win over Ruud wasn’t brilliant, Alcaraz, undoubtedly, is the favorite for the Japan Open final against Fritz. The American won the tournament in 2022, so for Alcaraz a serious challenge lies ahead – Fritz also defeated him during the Laver Cup earlier this month.

I know he’s playing great tennis right now. This is another challenge for me, and I’m looking forward to it.

Despite the difficulty of the matchup, the Japan Open final promises to be tense and exciting. Alcaraz continues to show a high level of play and to set the tone in his Tokyo matches, underscoring his world No. 1 status and his ability to withstand tough tests in recent tournaments.