Carlos Alcaraz Tokyo win grabbed headlines as the world number one lifted his eighth ATP title of the year. The Spaniard defeated American Taylor Fritz 6-4 6-4 in the Japan Open final on Sunday. But soon after his victory, Alcaraz announced that he would not play in the Shanghai Masters.
The 21-year-old explained on Instagram that he has been struggling with physical issues. He said resting and recovering is the best choice after talking with his team. During his opening match in Tokyo, Alcaraz twisted his left ankle. Despite that, he looked strong in the final against Fritz, who needed treatment for a thigh injury during the match.
Alcaraz broke Fritz at 5-4 to seal the first set. In the second set, he pushed harder, taking a 4-1 lead after breaking the American twice. Fritz managed to recover one break but could not stop Alcaraz from closing the match. The win marked Carlos Alcaraz Tokyo win and his 67th victory of the season.
Since his Wimbledon loss to Jannik Sinner in July, Alcaraz has been in top form, winning three consecutive titles — Cincinnati Open, US Open, and Tokyo Open. However, he will not return to the Shanghai Masters, where he reached the quarter-finals last year.
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner advanced to the final of the China Open after defeating Alex de Minaur. American teenager Learner Tien also made history by reaching his first ATP final after Daniil Medvedev retired with cramp.
With his latest success, Alcaraz moves closer to Sinner’s tally of 73 wins from 2024, proving again why he remains the man to beat in world tennis.
