World number one Carlos Alcaraz achieved another significant milestone by winning the Japan Open. He triumphed over Taylor Fritz with a score of 6-4, 6-4, marking his eighth ATP title of the year. However, shortly after this victory, Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Shanghai Masters.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Decision to Withdraw
In a statement on Instagram, Alcaraz cited the need to “rest and recover” due to ongoing physical issues. He mentioned that these issues stemmed from twisting his left ankle during his first-round match in Tokyo last Thursday. After discussions with his team, he concluded that sitting out of the Shanghai tournament was the best course of action.
Japan Open Performance
- Match Highlights:
- Defeated Taylor Fritz: 6-4, 6-4
- Secured eighth ATP title of the year
- Achieved 67th win of the season
- Match Details:
- Fritz struggled with a left thigh issue and received treatment twice.
- Alcaraz broke Fritz’s serve to lead 5-4 and successfully served out the first set.
- Despite being down 4-1 in the second set, Fritz rallied but couldn’t overcome Alcaraz’s pressure.
Looking Ahead
With this latest victory, Alcaraz continues to solidify his place at the top of the ATP rankings. He has been on a winning streak since losing to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon in July, claiming titles at the Cincinnati Open and the US Open before his recent success in Tokyo.
Unfortunately, Alcaraz will miss the Shanghai Masters, a tournament where he reached the quarter-finals last year. His current win total positions him close to Sinner, who recorded 73 wins in the previous season.
