The tournament week in East Asia delivered a full slate of drama on both the ATP and WTA circuits, with Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz and the British women Harriet Dart and Sonay Kartal both securing wins, while fellow Britons Cameron Norrie and Arthur Fery suffered first‑round defeats. 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‑adopted, quicker service motion. After rescuing three set points, Alcaraz edged a tightly contested opening set, clinching the tiebreak with a burst of power.
The altered serve, however, left him vulnerable, and he was broken twice early in the second set. The 23‑year‑old, who had hinted at his best form on the road to the US Open quarter‑finals after a long injury lay‑off, steadied his game and reclaimed the lead. A double fault in the seventh game gave Michelsen a lifeline, and the American seized the moment, rallying to force 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 curtailed his practice sessions, forcing him to adapt to slower court conditions and a heavier ball. "It felt different – the ball bounced bigger and the surface was a bit slower than the indoor courts I’m used to. It was frustrating not being able to play my usual aggressive game, but I accepted the circumstances, adjusted my tactics and was happy to come away with the win," he said.
He added that the experience would be valuable for the next round, giving him a clearer picture of what he needs to do moving forward. In the final set, Alcaraz produced a couple of spectacular points that gave him a 2‑0 lead, allowing the seven‑time Grand Slam champion to close out the match comfortably.
His victory came on a day that featured several major upsets in the ATP 500 event. Third seed Taylor Fritz fell to qualifier Jaume Munar in three sets (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 one‑sided loss to 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). On the men’s side of the China Open in Beijing, British No. 1 Cameron Norrie faced newly crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev.
Norrie started strongly, earning a set point, but he could not convert and soon found himself down a tiebreak after losing the first point of the decider. Zverev, who is eager to close the gap with world No.
1 Jannik Sinner (who is not competing in China), broke Norrie's serve in the ninth game of the second set and sealed a 7‑6(7‑1) 6‑4 victory. It marked Zverev’s ninth straight main‑tour win over Norrie, who was playing his first match after an early exit at the US Open. In the Japan Open, British rising star Arthur Fery was upset by Portugal’s Jaime Faria.
Fery had originally been slated to open against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, but Musetti withdrew with a finger injury, prompting the tournament to insert world No. 68 Faria into the draw. Faria jumped to an early lead, but Fery fought back to force a deciding third set. Despite his effort, he could not break Faria’s serve in the final set and fell 4‑6 6‑3 4‑6 after just over two hours of play.
The women’s draws also produced notable storylines. In Beijing, Sonay Kartal recorded her first tour‑level win since March, dispatching Spain’s Andrea Lázaro García in straight sets (6‑2 6‑3) to advance to the second round of the China Open.
Her composure and aggressive baseline play signalled a return to form after a lengthy slump. Harriet Dart, the 30‑year‑old Londoner, also progressed, but not without a marathon battle. She faced China’s Qu Yihan in a three‑hour encounter that tested her stamina and mental toughness. Dart ultimately prevailed 6‑2 6‑7(5‑7) 7‑5, showcasing her ability to grind out wins in tight situations.
The Japan Open also featured an emotional moment for Japanese tennis legend Kei Nishikori, who announced his retirement at the end of the year. In his final professional appearance on home soil, Nishikori was defeated by second‑seed Frances Tiafoe 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 tournament in Japan.
"I am excited to play in Japan but I also know this is my last moment," he said, describing the experience as "kind of sad." Nishikori’s retirement plan, revealed in May, includes stepping away from the sport after the 2026 season. He received a wild‑card entry to the Japan Open, a tournament he won in 2012 and 2014.
Injuries have plagued his later career, forcing him out of the Australian Open earlier this year due to shoulder pain and keeping him absent from last year’s US Open. Nishikori’s legacy is significant: he turned professional in 2007 and became the first Japanese player to reach a Grand Slam men’s singles final when he advanced to the US Open championship match in 2014, ultimately losing to Marin Čilić. His career has inspired a generation of Japanese players and elevated the profile of tennis in the region.
Overall, the week highlighted the unpredictable nature of the sport. While Alcaraz demonstrated why he remains a top contender, the early exits of Norrie and Fery underscored the depth of competition on the tour. Meanwhile, the British women’s successes offered a glimpse of emerging talent that could shape future events.
Fans can continue to follow the action on streaming platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, where live coverage of the ATP Japan Open, the WTA/ATP China Open, and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters is available without a contract.