TOKYO, Oct 6 (Reuters) – Carlos Alcaraz claimed victory over unseeded Czech player Jiri Lehecka with a score of 7-6(4), 6-4 in the final of the Japan Open on Tuesday, successfully defending his title. This win marks Alcaraz's third tournament victory of the year, following the Australian Open and Qatar Open, as he continues to bounce back after a lengthy wrist injury layoff. The 23-year-old returned to competition at the US Open in late August after nearly five months away from the sport.
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“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.” He noted that despite not playing at his best throughout the week, he managed to find effective solutions in crucial moments.
With this title, Alcaraz became the first man to win back-to-back titles in Tokyo since Pete Sampras in 1993-94. Although he started slowly, dropping his serve in the first game, he quickly regained his focus, breaking Lehecka's serve with a strong backhand to level the score at 3-3. Although Alcaraz struggled with uncharacteristic errors, he rallied to win the first set in a tiebreak with a remarkable drop shot.
In the second set, Alcaraz took charge, breaking Lehecka to lead 4-3 and ultimately sealing the match by forcing an error on match point. Celebrating with his team courtside, he reflected on overcoming doubts during his injury break. “A lot of negative thoughts come to your mind,” he shared. He expressed relief in trusting his abilities and returning to form.
Alcaraz is set to compete next at the Shanghai Masters, where he will face either Juan Manuel Cerundolo or a qualifier in the opening round. The main draw of the ATP 1000 event begins on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair and Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)