Carlos Alcaraz gathered his eighth title of the season and the 24th of his career, when he defeated Taylor Fritz in the final of the Japan Open, a 500 tournament tournament took place in Tokyo.
I did not start the year so well, emotionally struggling, so how I came back, I am just very proud of myself, and of all the people around me who helped me to be in this position. Carlos Alcaraz
The victory came only nine days after the Spaniard was lost to the American in the Laver Cup, a defeat that the world no. 1 ranked it, in the Ariake Colosseum of Tokyo, never left Fritz in the game while struck 6-4 6-4 for his 67th match-win of the season.
“It has been my best season so far,” said Alcaraz. “Eight titles, 10 finals … He shows how hard I have worked to experience these moments and achieve my goals. I did not start so well, how emotionally struggled, so how I came back, I am just very proud of myself, and on all the people around me who helped me to be in this position.”
Fritz took a medical time out twice to get treatment on his left thigh that could have hindered his last performance while he had trouble finding an answer to the power of Alcaraz.
Yet there was plenty to admire when the two top-five players exchanged rallies and winners to offer an entertaining final that included a little drama.
After a nine shot exchange in the fourth game, which ended with Alcaraz who planted a high backhand volley in the Net, the Spaniard stooped at the back of the court to regain his breath. He received a breach of time warning from referee Fergus Murphy before taking a few extra seconds to regroup, and then he found a trademark slob on the next point on his return to action.
With the help of his typically explosive forehand and instinctive return, Alcaraz Fritz overwhelmed all corners of the court and eventually converted his sixth breaking point to serve for the opener.
“I enjoyed every second [ofm this week apart from] The five minutes that I was on the floor after I hurt my ankle, “Alcaraz joked about his opening match against Sebastian Baez when making his Tokyo debut. “I am really happy with the level that I played with everything. Starting the week not good with the ankle, and the way I came back from it, I am just very happy with it.”
Carlos Alcaraz talks to Taylor Fritz after the couple has received their trophies.
(Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty images)
Fritz Brak Alcaraz leaves in the second only for the Spaniard to return the compliment by serving for the match for his second attempt after 93 minutes.
After collecting the trophy, Alcaraz announced that he would not play the Rolex masters in Shanghai, because he only needed his left now some time to fully recover.
With the withdrawal of the Spaniard, the next player to be sown, Corentin Moutet, the 33rd seed and takes the place of Alcaraz at the top of the draw. The Frenchman will be confronted in the second round with the final of the finalist of Beijing Tien or Miomir Kecmanovic.
Jannik Sinner, De Wereld No. 2, is now the highest ranked player in Shanghai and plays Daiel Altmaier or a qualification in his opening match.
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