Carlos Alcaraz won the Japan Open title in Tokyo, defeating Jiri Lehecka 7‑6(4), 6‑4 at the Ariake Coliseum on Tuesday. The Spaniard was broken early and was stretched to the limit in the first set, but he prevailed in a 96‑minute battle.
Alcaraz becomes only the third man to defend the Japan Open title and the first to do so since 1994. Prior champions who achieved back‑to‑back victories were Stefan Edberg, who won three consecutive titles from 1989 to 1991, and Pete Sampras, who claimed the event in 1993 and 1994.
The win is Alcaraz’s first trophy since February, after months away from competition due to a wrist injury. He said, “I’m really happy to be able to lift a trophy again. It’s been a while, and obviously it is extra special after my injury. My comeback, in the second tournament that I’ve played, lifting a trophy means a lot.”
Alcaraz lost his serve in the opening game but recovered, breaking the world No.19 to level 3‑3. A tie‑break saw him trailed 2‑4 before winning the set, and he later broke Lehecka in the second set to seal the match.
He admitted that doubts about returning to form after the injury lingered. “Obviously, a lot of negative thoughts come to your mind. If you are going to come back healthy, if you are going to come back the same as I was before. If I will be able to hit the ball normally without pain at all. A lot of thoughts came to my mind, but I tried to put those thoughts away all the time. My team and I knew that if I come back I was going to feel 100 per cent. If I feel something, the comeback is not going to be anything, so I just have to go full for every shot, every ball, and I trust my team, I trust myself, and it worked out,” he added.
