Alcaraz survives Michelsen test as Fritz, Ruud and Paul fall in Tokyo

Carlos Alcaraz was far from his best, but the defending champion is still standing at the Japan Open. The Spaniard needed 2 hours and 31 minutes to beat Alex Michelsen 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1 on Thursday, while several of his fellow seeds were not so fortunate on a chaotic opening day at Ariake.

A tricky first test

The world No. 34 pushed Alcaraz hard from the start. The American held three set points in the opener before Alcaraz escaped and ran away with the tie-break. Michelsen hit back to take the second set 6-4, but Alcaraz raised his level sharply in the decider, dropping only four points as he built a 5-0 lead. In total he broke serve five times in a match where his own delivery was often unreliable.

The win keeps Alcaraz perfect at the Ariake Coliseum at 6-0 and improves his season record to 28-4. More importantly, it gives him valuable time on court. Tokyo is only his third event since he missed around four months with a right wrist injury, and he arrived straight from the indoor Laver Cup in London.

"It was kind of freaky to adjust myself to that, to adjust my game," Alcaraz said of switching back to outdoor hard courts, according to the ATP Tour.

Next up is Italy's Matteo Arnaldi, whom Alcaraz has beaten in both of their previous meetings, at the 2023 US Open and at Indian Wells in 2024. Should he go all the way, Alcaraz would become the first player to successfully defend the Tokyo title since Pete Sampras in 1994.

Munar stuns an ailing Fritz

The biggest shock of the day came from Jaume Munar, who rallied to beat third seed Taylor Fritz 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-3 in 2 hours and 57 minutes. Munar let six set points slip in the first set, but he saved two crucial break points at 3-4 in the second and finished the match having saved seven of the eight he faced. Fritz appeared physically troubled throughout, frequently bending over between points and receiving treatment early in the second set.

It was the 29-year-old Spaniard's first win over Fritz at the third attempt. "Huge battle today. He is a great player and I have a lot of respect for him," Munar said. "Today, I knew he was coming from Europe and it is never easy, but I was just trying to keep focus on my serve and my side of the court."

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Seeds tumble across the draw

Fritz was not alone. Luciano Darderi beat sixth seed Casper Ruud 7-6(3), 6-3, Ugo Humbert ousted fifth seed Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 6-3 and Tommy Paul also exited in the first round. As a result, Alcaraz is the only seed left in the top half of the draw.

There was disappointment, too, for Spanish youngster Rafael Jódar, who was beaten 6-1, 6-3 by Daniel Vallejo. Holger Rune's comeback after ten months away ended quickly as Kyrian Jacquet won 6-3, 6-1. And on an emotional afternoon, second seed Frances Tiafoe beat Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4 in the final match of the Japanese star's career.

The round of 16 gets under way on Friday, with Alcaraz against Arnaldi and Tiafoe against Arthur Fils among the headline matches.