Carlos Alcaraz fought through a nail‑biting first‑set tiebreak to secure his place in the quarter‑finals of the Japan Open, defeating Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 7‑6 (8‑6), 6‑1 on Saturday. The Spanish prodigy, currently ranked world No. 3, will meet Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who earned his spot by beating Alejandro Tabilo 7‑5, 3‑6, 6‑4, in the next round.
During the opening set, Arnaldi surged ahead, forcing Alcaraz into a 2‑5 deficit in the tiebreak. The Spaniard displayed remarkable composure, saving four set points and turning the tide dramatically. He eventually clinched the tiebreak 8‑6, giving him a crucial 1‑0 lead in the match.
The momentum shift was evident in the second set, where Alcaraz elevated his game, breaking Arnaldi’s serve twice and cruising to a 6‑1 finish. “I just tried to stay there, point after point,” Alcaraz explained after the match.
“I changed how I played until that moment and it worked out. I’m just happy I got that first set. Matteo was playing great.” Alcaraz’s victory sets up a compelling quarter‑final clash with Denis Shapovalov, a player known for his aggressive baseline play and powerful forehand. Both athletes are eager to advance, as a deep run in Tokyo could boost their rankings and confidence heading into the Asian swing of the ATP Tour.
In other Tokyo action, Czech youngster Jiri Lehecka rallied from a set down to defeat France’s Ugo Humbert 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑4, earning a quarter‑final berth against Chilean Adolfo Daniel Vallejo Alvarez, who had eliminated Italy’s Matteo Berrettini earlier in the tournament. Lehecka’s comeback highlighted his resilience and tactical adjustments, especially on the crucial third set where he capitalized on Humbert’s unforced errors. Meanwhile, at the China Open, former US Open champion Alexander Zverev advanced to a high‑profile quarter‑final showdown with Novak Djokovic after dispatching wildcard Juncheng Shang 6‑0, 6‑3. Zverev’s dominant performance underscored his intent to regain form after a modest start to the season, while Djokovic, the world No.
1, will be looking to add another title to his impressive résumé. Australian rising star Alex de Minaur, who suffered a second‑round exit at the US Open, bounced back with a three‑set win over France’s Quentin Halys, securing a place in the last eight against Russia’s Andrey Rublev. Both de Minaur and Rublev are vying for valuable Race to Turin points, as they aim to clinch one of the coveted spots at this year’s ATP Finals in Turin. Rublev, who had previously survived a second‑set comeback from Roman Safiullin to win 6‑2, 3‑6, 6‑4, booked his own quarter‑final ticket and will now face de Minaur.
Their encounter promises high‑intensity rallies and strategic play, given Rublev’s heavy topspin forehand and de Minaur’s speed and defensive prowess. Daniil Medvedev continued his strong form by defeating Jan‑Lennard Struff in straight sets, positioning himself for a semi‑final clash with the winner of the Francisco Cerúndolo versus Jakub Mensik match. Medvedev’s efficient baseline game and precise serve make him a formidable opponent for any contender.
On the women’s side, after a three‑week break following her semi‑final loss to Elena Rybakina at the US Open, American sensation Coco Gauff returned to competition at the China Open. She overcame world No.
66 Camila Osorio 7‑6 (7‑4), 4‑6, 6‑2, advancing to the third round. Gauff survived a tense first‑set tiebreak, dropped the second after being broken at 4‑5, but rallied in the decider, breaking Osorio’s serve at a critical juncture to seal the match. Her next opponent will be China’s Xinran Sun. British player Harriet Dart started brightly against 10th seed Iva Jovic, taking the opening set, but could not sustain the momentum, eventually succumbing 2‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3.
Dart’s early surge demonstrated her aggressive return game, yet Jovic’s experience and consistency proved decisive in the latter two sets. Another Brit, Sonay Kartal, booked a place in the following round after a comfortable 6‑3, 6‑2 win over China’s top‑ranked Xinyu Wang. Kartal’s powerful groundstrokes and tactical variety suggest she could meet Elena Rybakina later, should she overcome Alina Charaeva in her own match. Polish star Iga Świątek, who exited the US Open in the round of 16, made a swift return to the court, converting five break points to dominate China’s Xinyu Gao 6‑2, 6‑3.
Świątek’s aggressive baseline play and precise serve left little room for her opponent, reinforcing her status as a top contender on the tour. Meanwhile, former world No. 2 Elina Svitolina displayed tenacity after dropping the first set to Czech Katerina Siniaková. Svitolina rallied to win 1‑6, 6‑4, 6‑2, showcasing her ability to adapt mid‑match and exploit her opponent’s weaknesses.
Fans can stream the ongoing tennis action without a contract via NOW or the Sky Sports App, which broadcast the ATP Japan Open, the WTA/ATP China Open, and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters live on Sky Sports. These platforms provide high‑definition coverage, multiple camera angles, and expert commentary, ensuring tennis enthusiasts worldwide can follow every rally, upset, and breakthrough throughout the Asian swing of the season.