Carlos Alcaraz tightened his grip on the world No. 1 spot by beating a bodily compromised Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 to win the Japan Open Tuesday in Tokyo.Alcaraz is trying to safe the year-end prime spot for the primary time in his profession, and has ensured that Jannik Sinner, who performs the China Open ultimate Wednesday, can’t shut the hole on him this week. Each occasions have 500 factors on provide for the winner, and so within the race to be the year-end world No. 1, which relies on factors earned in 2025, Alcaraz can have a lead of two,590 over Sinner even when the Italian beats Daniil Medvedev or Learner Tien in Beijing.Alcaraz completely seems to be like the person to beat in the mean time, recovering from an ankle harm within the first spherical right here to cruise to yet one more title. This was his ninth straight ultimate, his eighth title of the yr, and a forty second win from his final 44 matches. Fritz, who will transfer to No. 4 on this planet when the rankings replace subsequent week, was outclassed and at arms’ size even earlier than a problem along with his left leg hampered him.The primary set had not less than been aggressive, even when Alcaraz was all the time in management. He was irritated at being rushed between factors by the automated shot clock, and at one change of ends complained angrily to umpire Fergus Murphy, saying: “You’ve never played tennis in your life.”Alcaraz’s temper wasn’t helped by his failure to transform 5 break factors within the opening set, making questionable selections on a few of them simply as he had finished in opposition to Casper Ruud in Monday’s semifinal. In that match, Alcaraz paid for his profligacy with the primary set; in opposition to Fritz, he broke for 5-4 and served it out.Fritz then required a medical timeout, which signaled the tip of the match as an actual contest. The largest risk to Alcaraz was the opportunity of his being frazzled, as he has been earlier than, by taking part in an injured opponent. There have been indicators of that early on within the set when Alcaraz, apparently overthinking, made a number of errors to fall down break level whereas serving up 2-1.He managed to carry on after which broke a visibly ailing Fritz within the subsequent sport, to safe the double break and successfully the match. From then on, the one query was whether or not Fritz wouldn’t retire. He performed on, and even obtained one of many breaks again, staying in factors with intelligent prods down the road on his forehand facet and unleashing on groundstrokes at any time when given the prospect, however Alcaraz produced two beautiful drop pictures to shut out the ultimate sport as his readability of thought returned.For Alcaraz, his consideration turns to Shanghai and the prospect to additional lengthen his lead over Sinner, who he shall be anticipated to face within the ultimate. Earlier than then, Alcaraz may additionally be forgiven for not less than having one eye on Wednesday’s China Open ultimate.(High photograph: Koji Watanabe / Getty Photos)
Carlos Alcaraz beats Taylor Fritz to win Japan Open and push for year-end world No. 1
