Alcaraz finds his groove again with Japan Open triumph

Tokyo, October 6 — Carlos Alcaraz claimed his maiden title since returning from a four-month injury absence, defeating Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in the Japan Open final. The top seed and previous champion faced a formidable challenge from world No. 19 Lehecka during their match in Tokyo before securing his first victory since the Qatar Open in February.

This win marked Alcaraz's third tournament since recovering from a wrist injury, following a quarter-final run at the US Open and a participation in the Laver Cup. Reflecting on his comeback, Alcaraz stated, "A lot of negative thoughts come to your mind, if you’re going to come back healthy, if you’re going to be the same as I was before."

He emphasized his team's confidence in his full recovery and emotional resilience. This triumph marked Alcaraz's third title of the year and the 27th of his career, a testament to his ongoing dominance in men's tennis. The world No. 3 entered the final with a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Lehecka, who was determined to clinch his first title of the year.

Alcaraz faced a swift service break from Lehecka, who lacked time to settle before the match commenced. The Spaniard broke through in a prolonged first-set battle and further showcased his powerful play in the subsequent game. Despite Lehecka's persistent resistance, Alcaraz managed to secure the first set through a pair of exceptional drop shots in a tiebreaker.

Lehecka maintained his challenge, but Alcaraz capitalized on his momentum, breaking serve in the second set and proceeding without errors to clinch the victory. Alcaraz is set to compete in the Shanghai Masters, commencing the following day, after withdrawing from last year's tournament at the last minute due to "physical issues".