Alcaraz wins Japan opener
Carlos Alcaraz overcomes a shaky start to win his Japan Open opener.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Alcaraz said he was experimenting with a modified, faster serve; he was broken twice in the second set, and a double fault helped Michelsen force a decider.
2
Alcaraz said the open-roofed main court felt like “a totally different game” after practicing indoors, and added that he was “a little bit unhappy” with his level despite winning.
3
Matteo Arnaldi reached the second round by coming back to beat Japanese wildcard Rei Sakamoto 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
4
Other notable early exits included seventh seed Tommy Paul, who lost to Alejandro Tabilo, Holger Rune, who fell to Kyrian Jacquet, and fifth seed Brandon Nakashima, who was beaten by Ugo Humbert.
Carlos Alcaraz won his Japan Open opener in a tight three-set battle, defeating American Alex Michelsen 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 in Tokyo. The Spanish top seed and defending champion saved three set points in the first set but struggled with his serve in the second, including a double fault that forced a decider. Alcaraz, back after a four-month injury layoff, raised his intensity in the third set to pull away and advance to face Italy's Matteo Arnaldi next.
Alcaraz Experiments With Faster Serve
Alcaraz said he was trying a modified, faster serve during the match. The new approach backfired in the second set, where he was broken twice by Michelsen. A double fault by Alcaraz in that set helped force the match to a decisive third round. Despite the serve struggles, the Spaniard felt the tactical change was worth testing.
Indoor Practice Throws Off Alcaraz on Open Court
Alcaraz said the open-roofed main court in Tokyo felt like "a totally different game" after practicing indoors. The transition clearly affected his early performance against Michelsen. Despite winning the match, Alcaraz admitted he was "a little bit unhappy" with his overall level. The environmental shift highlighted the challenge of returning from injury and adjusting to tournament conditions.
Seeded Players Fall in Early Rounds
The Japan Open saw several major upsets on opening day. Seventh seed Tommy Paul lost to Alejandro Tabilo. Holger Rune fell to Kyrian Jacquet, and fifth seed Brandon Nakashima was beaten by Ugo Humbert. Matteo Arnaldi, who will face Alcaraz next, advanced by defeating Japanese wildcard Rei Sakamoto 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a comeback win.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
14
Articles
51
Reach
65
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
