Carlos Alcaraz Fends Off Four Set Points to Reach Japan Open Quarterfinals
Defending champion beats Matteo Arnaldi 7-6(6), 6-1 in Tokyo; next faces Denis Shapovalov
2 min read
File photo: Carlos Alcaraz at the Argentina Open in 2024. Photo: OMAR.ERRE, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals of the Kinoshita Group Japan Open on Saturday, battling past Matteo Arnaldi 7-6(6), 6-1 after saving four set points in a tense opening-set tie-break.
The defending champion trailed 2-6 in the breaker at Ariake Coliseum before winning six straight points. He saved the set points with a backhand winner and a drive-volley, then leveled when Arnaldi erred, carved out set point with a backhand smash and closed the first set. Alcaraz then broke twice in the second set and sealed victory in one hour and 45 minutes, according to the ATP Tour.
"Point after point"
"When you are down in a tie-break, you are thinking about doing something different," Alcaraz said. "Then you are trying to be better in the second set... I just tried to stay there, point after point. I changed how I played until that moment and it worked out. Just happy that I got that first set. Matteo was playing great."
The win improved Alcaraz to 3-0 in his ATP Head2Head series with Arnaldi and extended his streak to seven straight victories at the Tokyo ATP 500, following his title run on debut a year ago. He is aiming to become the first man to defend the Tokyo title since Pete Sampras in 1993-94.
Shapovalov awaits
Next up is Denis Shapovalov, who defeated Alejandro Tabilo 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 earlier Saturday. Elsewhere, Jiri Lehecka rallied past Ugo Humbert 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 and qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo beat Matteo Berrettini 7-6(6), 6-1 to set up a Lehecka-Vallejo quarterfinal.
Sources: Reuters (Field Level Media); ATP Tour
