Alcaraz saves four set points, cruises past Arnaldi into Tokyo quarters

Carlos Alcaraz was two points from losing the first set. Then he did not lose another point in the tiebreak. The defending champion won six straight points from 2-6 down, beat Matteo Arnaldi 7-6(6), 6-1 on Saturday and is into the quarterfinals of the Japan Open.

A long first set, then a fast finish

The opening set took 73 minutes, and for most of it Arnaldi, ranked 37th, matched the world No. 3. In the tiebreak the Italian had four set points. Alcaraz saved all of them and took the set.

After that the match turned quickly. Alcaraz led 5-0 in the second set, losing only six points along the way. Arnaldi got on the board at 5-1 and had two break points in the next game, but Alcaraz held and closed out the win in 1 hour and 46 minutes.

Alcaraz said afterwards that he had changed his approach: "I just tried to play with less speed, tried to play more rallies," he said, adding: "I made him feel a little bit uncomfortable, and I also made him think a little bit more."

Numbers that follow Alcaraz to Tokyo

The win extends several streaks. Alcaraz has now won seven straight matches in Tokyo, after taking the title in 2025. He leads Arnaldi 3-0 in their head-to-head. According to Tennis Majors, he is also 18-0 at ATP 500 events since losing the 2025 Barcelona final to Holger Rune.

If he wins the title, Alcaraz would be the first man to defend the Tokyo title since Pete Sampras in 1993 and 1994. He also needs the trophy to keep the 500 ranking points he earned here last year.

Still building after the wrist injury

Tokyo is about more than the title for Alcaraz. It is his third event since coming back from a right wrist injury that kept him out for more than four months. He returned at the US Open, where he reached the quarterfinals, and then played the Laver Cup.

Before the tournament he made clear what he wanted from the week: "I need matches in my bag. I need competition rhythm and I'm getting used to it again." Three matches in, he has got exactly that. In the first round he needed three sets to beat Alex Michelsen, and against Arnaldi he again had to fight through a tight opening set.

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The draw has opened up around him. Several seeds have already gone out in Tokyo, including Taylor Fritz, who lost to qualifier Jaume Munar.

Shapovalov next

In the quarterfinals Alcaraz meets Denis Shapovalov. The Canadian, ranked 46th, beat Alejandro Tabilo 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. The record is clearly in Alcaraz's favour. He has beaten Shapovalov in both previous meetings without losing a set: in straight sets at Roland Garros in 2023 and 6-2, 6-4 at Indian Wells in 2025.

The other quarterfinals in Tokyo are Arthur Fils against Valentin Vacherot and Kyrian Jacquet against Jaume Munar. Alcaraz and Shapovalov are scheduled to play on Sunday, 4 October.