Carlos Alcaraz secured his maiden Japan Open title with a straight-sets victory over Taylor Fritz in Tokyo.
The 22-year-old Spaniard triumphed 6-4, 6-4, marking his eighth tournament win of an already remarkable 2025 season.
Alcaraz, who has been in scintillating form, showcased his explosive groundstrokes and tactical acumen throughout the match. He broke Fritz’s serve in the first set after a series of intense rallies, converting on his sixth break point opportunity.
The American, seeded second, put up a valiant fight but called for a medical timeout early in the second set to address a left leg issue.
Despite the injury, Fritz mounted a late comeback, breaking Alcaraz when the Spaniard first served for the match. However, Alcaraz regained his composure, sealing the win with consecutive drop shots that left the crowd in awe.
This victory avenges Alcaraz’s recent loss to Fritz at the Laver Cup and further cements his dominance atop the ATP rankings ahead of rival Jannik Sinner.
Post-match, Fritz graciously praised Alcaraz, calling him “the best player in the world for a reason” and a “great guy.” He also acknowledged his team’s efforts during a solid week in Tokyo, while expressing gratitude to the fans and organizers. Fritz made no reference to his injury in his comments.
Alcaraz’s 2025 haul now includes triumphs across various surfaces: hard, clay, and grass. His titles this year are:
– US Open (Hard)
– Roland Garros (Clay)
– Cincinnati Masters (Hard)
– Rome Masters (Clay)
– Monte-Carlo Masters (Clay)
– Queen’s Club (Grass)
– Rotterdam (Hard)
– Japan Open (Hard)
With a 67-7 win-loss record overall and an impressive 51-3 streak since April, Alcaraz has reached 10 straight finals. He joins an elite group of players since 2000—including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Jannik Sinner—who have claimed at least eight titles in a single season. Sinner achieved the feat last year, and Alcaraz now matches it with time left for more accolades.
The tour shifts next to the Shanghai Masters, where Alcaraz aims to extend his hot streak. Meanwhile, Sinner is set to contest the China Open final in Beijing tomorrow.
This win comes after Alcaraz overcame an ankle scare in his tournament opener, highlighting his resilience amid a packed schedule.