Carlos Alcaraz was hardly tested during his last three games, despite adjusting his ankle in his opening match against Sebastian Baez to reach the semi -final in Tokyo, without dropping a set.
But I think that even last week, being able to beat Carlos and Sasha (Zverev, the World No.3) in back-to-back matches, it is of course not in a Grand Slam, but I think that just does a lot for my conviction that I can do it in a big tournament too Taylor Fritz
According to all accounts, it was a comfortable run without visible signs of single problems with any questions about it, immediately rejected.
However, there were signs that the injury was more than an inconvenience when he came across Casper Ruud for a place in the final, where the Norwegian immediately put pressure on the Spaniard by putting a continuous top -spider with excessive corners, so that his overall fitness was tested, a tactic who lay an excellent trick when he put the opening set.
The reaction of Alcaraz, as expected from the World No. 1, was to re-assess the problem and to use a more aggressive and risky approach to turn the momentum and step into the final by gaining a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory after two hours and 8 minutes.
After Alcaraz had leveled the game, he opened his bag with tricks to produce a remarkable shot making while he hurried freely over the court, which shows that there were no problems with that ankle.
However, if he is opposed to Taylor Fritz in the final, the American will more than likely try to use that possible weakness.
“Today was a very tough game,” admitted Alcaraz. “I couldn’t use the chances in the first set.
“It was really emotional, very difficult to tackle everything today, but I am just very happy that I can turn everything around. I am excited to play in a different final.”
Two, Fritz offered his way to the final by sending his countryman Jenson Brooksby 6-4 6-3 in what his easiest victory of the week was.
Taylor Fritz Keepshis crosses crossed while he makes the final
(Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty images)
Fritz, the World No.5 and former Tokyo champion, shot 13 aces past Brooksby while defeating him for the third time this year.
The match waved in favor of Fritz when he broke Brooksby at 5-4 to win the first set and then he asked Tin second to take control, to finish it after 90 minutes with his 13th bait.
“To be honest, just by bone,” Fritz said when he was asked how he achieved such a comfortable victory. “I served incredibly well: high percentage serves first and also stains. It felt like a game that I hadn’t hit three aces, he really played from the basic line. I was able to hang on my serve and then take advantage of that scoreboard print. My serve got me through it.”
The result of the two semis means that a final of high quality can be expected, because both players have an ax to grind. It is also the first time since 2011 that the two top seeds have met in the final
Alcaraz, who chases his eighth title in nine finals of the season, wants to challenge his Laver Cup loss against Fritz, while the American wants to dispute the dominance of the Spaniard (and Jannik Sinner) of the game.
That victory in San Francisco was his first about Alcaraz in four games and the momentum is currently with him, which means a lot to the American
“I think I now felt capable of clicking the right things and I play well,” said Fritz earlier in the week in the Ariake Colosseum of Tokyo,
“But I think that even last week, able to beat Carlos and Sasha (Zverev, the World No.3) in back-to-back competitions, it is clearly not in a Grand Slam, but I think that just does a lot for my conviction that I can do it in a big tournament.
“I am someone who has always said that if I feel that I am doing something, just feels much easier for me to repeat it and do it again.
“And yes, it is not as if we have just played in the final of a masters or a slam, but I still felt a lot of nerves and busy during the game and for me it felt like a big game.
“I think I do that, it makes me the conviction that I will be able to do it at a different time.”
The couple meets on Tuesday to determine the outcome.
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