Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 1, sailed into the semi-finals of the Japan Open on Sunday and defeated American Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-4 in Tokyo. The 22 year old Spanish star, who had just recaptured the number one position in the world by winning his sixth Grand Slam at the U.S. Open, hit 39 winners in only 80 minutes to score his 65th win of the year, equal to his own record.
In his debut in Japan Open, Alcaraz commended the experience following his domineering victory. It is unique since it is the first time I will be performing in Tokyo. It is great to make it to the semis in my first appearance, said he. He began the second set by missing three match points, but ended on a high note, taking four wins in a row to win the match.
Alcaraz is then followed by Norwegian fourth seed and the former Australian qualifier Casper Ruud who previously disposed of Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 6-2 in less than 58 minutes. Alcaraz is three games ahead of Ruud in their head-to-head record (including a 2022 U.S. Open final win) but Ruud asserted that they last met in the 2024 ATP Finals.
Meanwhile, Danish third seed Holger Rune was knocked out in one of his major shocks, falling 6-3, 6-3 to a 86 th ranked American Jenson Brooksby. Brooksby, a first-time Rune opponent, attributed the victory to his rhythm throughout the previous rounds. I was in a good rhythm in the first and second matches and remained the same today, he said.
Second seed Taylor Fritz survived a second-set hiccup in another all-American quarter-final to outlast Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3. Fritz, who will become the fourth in the ATP ranking, will play against Brooksby in the semifinals, and Alcaraz will play against Ruud in one of the most anticipated finals.
With the last four being Alcaraz, Fritz, Ruud and Brooksby, the Japan Open is heating up to an exciting finish.
Lions, Bills Dominate NFL Power Rankings, Chiefs Fall to Below.500