Alcaraz advances to Japan Open quarter-finals with win over Arnaldi

In Tokyo, Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarter-finals of the Japan Open with a win over Italy's Matteo Arnaldi. The world number three secured a 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 victory in a match that lasted one hour and 13 minutes. Alcaraz saved four set points in the first set, including one during a tie-break, before turning the match around with aggressive play.

He stated that saving those crucial set points made him feel good, emphasizing the importance of perceiving the set as not over until the final point. Alcaraz then played with fewer spins and rallies, aiming to make Arnaldi uncomfortable and force him into more aggressive shots. The 23-year-old concluded that this strategy made the second set more challenging for his opponent.

This victory marks Alcaraz's third tournament since returning from a wrist injury that sidelined him for several months until late August. He previously competed at the US Open, where he reached the quarter-finals but ultimately lost.