Carlos Alcaraz defended his Japan Open crown on Tuesday, after outclassing an unseeded Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4-2), 6-4 in the final and continue his resurgence after a wrist injury. Alcaraz, who won the Australian Open at the start of the year, had to miss the next two Grand Slams – French Open and – due to a persistent right wrist injury.
Although he returned to the US Open, but couldn’t get past Ben Shelton in the quarterfinal. The Japan Open was third title of the year. The 23-year-old had also won the Qatar Open.
Ranked third in the world, started shakily at Tokyo’s Ariake Coliseum and dropped serve in the first game. However, the seven-time Grand Slam winner recovered soon and dialled up the intensity to break Lehecka’s serve with a scorching backhand to level at 3-3.
More uncharacteristic errors from Alcaraz gave Lehecka hope in the tiebreak, but the Spaniard unleashed a sublime drop-shot en route to clinching the opening set to lay the platform for victory.
In the second set, Alcaraz took control midway through the second set, breaking to take a 4-3 lead before sealing victory by forcing an error on match point.
With his win in 96 minutes, Alacaraz extended his winning run to 21-0 at the ATP 500 level, since his loss to Holger Rune in 2025 at the Barcelona Open final. Overall, Alcaraz is the third man to successfully defend the Jaoan Open crown. Stefan Edberg was the first to defend, with three wins on the bounce from1989 to 1991. Sampras was the next, who triumphed in 1993 and 1994.
Following the win, Alcaraz couldn’t hold his emotions. “I’m really happy to be able to lift a trophy again,” Alcaraz said. “It’s been a while and obviously it’s extra special after my injury and my comeback, in the second tournament that I’m playing.
“It was a really tough week and I didn’t play my best tennis and my best level but I did find good solutions and that’s what matters in the end.” Alcaraz said his triumph helped erase the doubts that he faced during his injury break. “A lot of negative thoughts come to your mind,” Alcaraz added.
“If you’re going to come back healthy, if you’re going to come back the same as you were before, if I will be able to hit the ball normally without pain. I trusted myself and it worked out.”
Alcaraz will return to action at the Shanghai Masters where he will take on Juan Manuel Cerundolo or a qualifier first. The main draw of the ATP 1000 event begins on Wednesday.
