The Japan Open and China Open delivered a packed day of drama on both the ATP and WTA circuits, highlighted by victories for Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and the British women Harriet Dart and Sonay Kartal. The day also saw British men Cameron Norrie and Arthur Fery suffer first‑round defeats. Alcaraz's match against American teenager Alex Michelsen was a roller‑coaster.
The Spaniard saved three set points to edge a tightly contested first set, eventually prevailing in a tense tiebreak. Still, he was experimenting with a newly accelerated service motion, which cost him twice early in the second set as he was broken.
The 23‑year‑old, who had shown flashes of top form on his way to the US Open quarter‑finals after a lengthy injury lay‑off, managed to regroup and pull ahead. A double fault in the seventh game gave Michelsen a lifeline, and the American kept his composure, forcing a decider after a lucky net‑cord winner left Alcaraz stranded at the baseline. Speaking after the match, Alcaraz explained that the relentless rain in Tokyo had limited his practice time.
"The ball behaved differently, the court was a bit slower than indoor conditions, so it was a challenge to adjust," he said. He admitted the conditions were frustrating because they prevented him from playing his usual aggressive style, but he was pleased to adapt and secure the win. "It was important to get that feeling for the next round and to know what I have to do in upcoming matches," he added. In the final set Alcaraz produced a couple of spectacular points that gave him a 2‑0 lead, and the seven‑time Grand Slam champion used that momentum to close out a comfortable victory on a day that featured several upsets in the ATP 500 event.
His triumph came after other top seeds fell: third seed Taylor Fritz lost to qualifier Jaume Munar 6‑7 (7‑9), 6‑4, 6‑3; sixth seed Casper Ruud was beaten by Luciano Darderi 7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑3; and seventh seed Tommy Paul suffered a 6‑1, 6‑2 defeat at the hands of Alejandro Tabilo. Former world No. 4 Holger Rune, still working his way back from an Achilles injury, also exited with a 6‑3, 6‑1 loss to Kyrian Jacquet. On the men's side of the China Open in Beijing, British No.
1 Cameron Norrie was dispatched 7‑6 (7‑1), 6‑4 by the newly crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev in the opening round. Norrie had a set‑point chance but squandered it and then faltered in the subsequent tiebreak after taking the first point. Zverev, who is eager to close the gap on world No. 1 Jannik Sinner (who is not competing in China), secured a crucial break in the ninth game of the second set and sealed the match.
This marked Zverev's ninth consecutive main‑tour victory over Norrie, who was playing his first match after a disappointing early exit at Flushing Meadows. British No.
25 Arthur Fery also faced an early exit at the Japan Open, losing 4‑6, 6‑3, 4‑6 to Portugal's Jaime Faria. Fery was originally slated to open the tournament against Italy's Lorenzo Musetti, but Musetti withdrew with a finger injury, prompting Faria, ranked 68th, to step in. Faria took a surprising early lead in Tokyo, and although Fery rallied to force a deciding third set, he could not break his opponent's serve and fell short after just over two hours of play. On the women's side of the China Open, Sonay Kartal recorded her first tour‑level win since March, dispatching Spain's Andrea Lázaro García 6‑2, 6‑3 to advance to the second round.
Fellow Brit Harriet Dart also progressed, but not without a marathon three‑hour battle against China's Qu Yihan. The 30‑year‑old Londoner emerged victorious 6‑2, 6‑7 (5‑7), 7‑5 after a grueling contest.
The tournament also featured an emotional farewell for Japanese veteran Kei Nishikori, who retired after a 6‑4, 6‑4 loss to second‑seed Frances Tiafoe in Tokyo. The 36‑year‑old former US Open finalist, who once reached a career‑high ranking of No.
4, reflected on his mixed feelings about playing his final elite‑level event on home soil. "I am excited to play in Japan but I also know this is my last moment," Nishikori said, describing the experience as "kind of sad." He had announced in May that he would retire at the end of the year and received a wild‑card entry to the Japan Open, a tournament he won in 2012 and 2014. Injuries have plagued Nishikori in recent years, forcing him out of the Australian Open earlier this season and the US Open last year. He turned professional in 2007 and made history as the first Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam singles final at the 2014 US Open, where he fell to Marin Čilić.
Overall, the day showcased a blend of emerging talent, seasoned veterans, and unexpected results. Alcaraz demonstrated resilience in adapting to adverse conditions, while British women Dart and Kartal proved their tenacity by navigating tough matches. The early departures of Norrie and Fery highlighted the depth of competition, and Nishikori's farewell added a poignant note to an eventful week of tennis across Asia.