The tournament week in East Asia delivered a whirlwind of drama on both the ATP and WTA circuits, with Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz, as well as British women Harriet Dart and Sonay Kartal, all securing wins in their respective draws. At the same time, fellow British players Cameron Norrie and Arthur Fery suffered first‑round defeats, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the China Open and Japan Open. Alcaraz’s match against American youngster Alex Michelsen was a roller‑coaster that showcased the Spaniard’s resilience and his ongoing adjustments to a newly tweaked, faster service motion.
After saving three set points, Alcaraz edged a tightly contested opening set in a tiebreak, displaying his trademark aggression when it mattered most. The experiment with his service motion, however, cost him early in the second set, where he was broken twice. The 23‑year‑old, who had only recently returned from a lengthy injury lay‑off and had hinted at a resurgence on his way to the US Open quarter‑finals, managed to regroup. A double fault in the seventh game of the second set gave Michelsen a brief lifeline, and the American capitalised, holding his nerve to force a decisive third set.
Michelsen’s composure shone through the tense conclusion of the second set. A lucky net‑cord winner left Alcaraz stranded at the baseline, allowing the American to clinch the set and set up a final showdown. Alcaraz, fresh from leading Team Europe to a Laver Cup victory on indoor courts in London, commented on the challenging conditions in Tokyo, noting that the rain‑soaked courts made the ball bounce higher and the surface slower than the indoor venues he had just conquered.
"It was a different feeling. The ball comes bigger.
The court performs a little bit slower than the indoor courts for sure, so it was freaky to adjust to that," he explained. He added that the slower conditions forced him to deviate from his usual aggressive style, but he was ultimately pleased with his adaptability: "It was a little bit frustrating, not being able to play my game, my style, and play aggressive ...
it was difficult but I'm really happy to accept and understand how I had to play and to get the win at the end." In the final set, Alcaraz seized the momentum, racing to a 2‑0 lead with a series of breathtaking points that highlighted his speed, precision and tactical intelligence. The seven‑time Grand Slam champion used the early advantage as a launch pad, eventually sealing a comfortable victory that capped a day of significant upsets in the ATP 500 event. Alcaraz’s triumph came amid a cascade of surprising results involving other seeded players. Third seed Taylor Fritz was upset by qualifier Jaume Munar in a three‑set battle (6‑7 (7‑9), 6‑4, 6‑3).
Sixth seed Casper Ruud fell to Italian wildcard Luciano Darderi (7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑3), while seventh seed Tommy Paul suffered a swift defeat at the hands of Alejandro Tabilo (6‑1, 6‑2). Former world No.
4 Holger Rune, still working his way back from an Achilles injury, was dispatched by Kyrian Jacquet in straight sets (6‑3, 6‑1), underscoring the depth of competition in the field. On the men’s side of the China Open in Beijing, British No. 1 Cameron Norrie faced a stern test against newly crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev.
Norrie started strongly, earning a set point, but ultimately squandered the opportunity and faltered in the ensuing tiebreak. Zverev, intent on narrowing the gap with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner—who was absent from the tournament—snapped a crucial break in the ninth game of the second set and closed out the match 7‑6 (7‑1), 6‑4.
This victory marked Zverev’s ninth consecutive main‑tour win over Norrie, a streak that began when Norrie first broke through at Flushing Meadows earlier in the season. British prospect Arthur Fery experienced a similar fate in Tokyo. Originally slated to open against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, Fery’s opponent was changed at the last minute when Musetti withdrew due to a finger injury.
World No. 68 Jaime Faria of Portugal stepped in and delivered a surprise early lead, ultimately prevailing 4‑6, 6‑3, 4‑6 after a hard‑fought three‑set duel that lasted just over two hours. Fery was unable to break Faria’s serve in the decisive set, and the Portuguese youngster celebrated a notable upset.
The women’s draw at the China Open also featured British success. Sonay Kartal recorded her first tour‑level win since March, dispatching Spain’s Andrea Lazaro Garcia in straight sets (6‑2, 6‑3) to advance to the second round. Her composure and aggressive baseline play signalled a promising resurgence for the young Turk‑British player. Harriet Dart, the 30‑year‑old Londoner, endured a marathon three‑hour battle against China’s Qu Yihan.
After taking the first set 6‑2, Dart dropped a tightly contested tiebreak (5‑7) in the second set before rallying to claim the final set 7‑5. Her victory highlighted both physical stamina and mental toughness, qualities essential for navigating the grueling Asian swing.
The Japan Open also marked an emotional farewell for Japanese legend Kei Nishikori, who announced his retirement plans earlier in the year. In his final ATP appearance on home soil, Nishikori faced second‑seed Frances Tiafoe and fell 6‑4, 6‑4. The 36‑year‑old, a former US Open finalist and career‑high world No. 4, reflected on the mixed emotions of playing his last elite‑level match in Japan: "I am excited to play in Japan but I also know this is my last moment.
So, it's kind of sad." Nishikori, who missed the Australian Open earlier in the season due to a shoulder issue and has battled injuries for several years, received a wild‑card entry to the Tokyo event—an honour he previously enjoyed when he won the Japan Open in 2012 and 2014. His career, which began in 2007, includes the historic achievement of becoming the first Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam singles final at the 2014 US Open, where he was defeated by Marin Čilić. Overall, the week’s action demonstrated the volatile nature of professional tennis, where emerging talents can topple established stars, and seasoned veterans can experience both triumph and farewell on the same courts. Fans worldwide were able to follow the drama live via streaming platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, which offered coverage of the ATP Japan Open, the WTA/ATP China Open, and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters.
The combination of high‑stakes matches, unexpected upsets, and poignant career milestones made this Asian swing a memorable chapter in the 2024 tennis season.