Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jiri Lehecka to win the Japan Open
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (4), 6-4 in the Japan Open final, capturing his third title of the year and breaking a title drought following a wrist injury, according to reports.
Defending the Tokyo Crown After Injury
The victory marked Alcaraz’s 27th career title and moved him past Andy Murray’s nine ATP titles, leaving only Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic ahead of him in the Open Era. The triumph followed a five-set quarterfinal loss to Ben Shelton at the US Open and a brief appearance at the Laver Cup in London. Alcaraz noted that he did not want to take anything for granted after returning from his four-to-five-month layoff.
“I didn’t know if I was going to win a tournament this soon or if I was going to win a tournament this season,” Alcaraz said, according to uk.sports.yahoo.com coverage. “I just want to arrive at a tournament, give my best, try to play my best and let’s see how the tournament goes.”
Managing a Challenging Draw in Tokyo
Each of Alcaraz’s five matches in Tokyo featured either a tiebreak or a third set. In the final, world number 19 Jiri Lehecka broke Alcaraz’s serve in the opening game. Alcaraz leveled the first set at 3-3 with a backhand winner up the line before taking control of the tiebreak by winning six of the final seven points.
Setting Sights on the Shanghai Masters
Following his success in Tokyo, Alcaraz traveled directly to the Shanghai Masters. Having received a first-round bye, he is scheduled to open play on October 9 against the winner of the match between Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Nicolas Mejia. His projected path in the Round of 16 includes a potential meeting with Tommy Paul or Valentin Vacherot, who returns to defend his title from 2025. Alcaraz previously reached the quarterfinals in Shanghai during his 2024 appearance, having withdrawn from the tournament at the last minute in 2025 due to physical fatigue and concerns over the demanding tennis calendar.
With his ranking holding at world number three following the Tokyo conclusion, Alcaraz avoids top-ranked Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, and Ben Shelton, all of whom occupy the opposite side of the Shanghai draw. Competitors navigating intensive athletic training schedules or managing physical rehabilitation often rely on specialized sports medicine and physical therapy clinics to maintain peak performance during demanding international tours.
Alcaraz’s 2025 campaign featured eight titles, including two Grand Slams and two Masters events, setting a high benchmark that his post-injury return run in Asia aims to replicate.