World number one Carlos Alcaraz secured his eighth trophy of the season after defeating American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the Japan Open final on Tuesday.
Despite carrying an ankle injury throughout the week in Tokyo, the Spaniard delivered a dominant performance against the world number five. The US Open champion thrilled the crowd with his trademark mix of power and agility, sealing the match with a deftly executed drop shot before warmly embracing Fritz at the net.
The victory marked Alcaraz’s ninth consecutive final and his 10th overall this season, a feat unmatched since fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal achieved the milestone in 2017. The win also gave Alcaraz a measure of revenge after Fritz had beaten him for the first time at the Laver Cup in San Francisco two weeks earlier.
Alcaraz made his breakthrough late in the first set, breaking in the ninth game before serving it out. In the second set, he raced to a 4-1 lead with punishing forehands and back-to-back breaks. Though Fritz managed to break once, it wasn’t enough as Alcaraz closed out the contest with authority.
For Fritz, the loss ended his bid for a third title of the year, having previously triumphed in Stuttgart and Eastbourne. The American had also lifted the Japan Open crown in 2022. Both players will now turn their attention to the Shanghai Masters later this week.
What you should know
Carlos Alcaraz’s Japan Open triumph extends his exceptional 2025 season, with 10 finals and eight titles.
The 22-year-old world number one continues to mirror Rafael Nadal’s dominance, underscoring his position as the sport’s most formidable rising force.
