Carlos Alcaraz sends heartfelt message to Denis Shapovalov after he retires from their Japan Open quarter-final match

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the Japan Open semi-finals after defeating Denis Shapovalov, despite a difficult match that saw the Canadian retire early. Alcaraz struggled with his serve throughout the first set, but rallied strongly in the tiebreak to secure the victory. Shapovalov was visibly injured, and an off-court medical timeout could not reverse the situation.

Alcaraz expressed his sympathy for Shapovalov, stating, "Be back soon, Denis," and hoping he would be able to return healthy to compete in future tournaments. Alcaraz acknowledged that his performance was far from where he wants it to be, but he is proud of his progress since returning to the ATP Tour after an injury. He remains optimistic about future matches and is determined to improve his level.

Commentator Greg Rusedski praised Shapovalov's upward trajectory and suggested that Alcaraz needs to elevate his game in the upcoming semi-finals, as his opponent played exceptionally well in the quarter-finals.