Carlos Alcaraz opened his title defense at the Japan Open in Tokyo with a hard-fought win, defeating Alex Michelsen 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1 to reach the second round. The world No. 3, top seed, and defending champion needed two hours and 31 minutes to get past the American, who is ranked No. 34.
Alcaraz’s Performance and Next Steps
Alcaraz dropped serve five times but lifted his level when it mattered, pulling away in a dominant final set. He next faces Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, maintaining a perfect record inside Ariake Coliseum after winning the tournament on his debut last year.
Coming off indoor play at the Laver Cup and limited outdoor practice in Tokyo due to rain, Alcaraz said the conditions felt noticeably slower and the ball heavier than what he experienced last week. He described needing to adjust his game, accepting a less aggressive approach to find a way through the opener.
The match swung early, with Alcaraz trailing 2-4 in the first set before winning four of the next five games. He saved three break points serving at 4-5, then failed to serve out at 6-5, but controlled the tiebreak to take the lead. Michelsen, who reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open last month, answered in the second set. He broke to start the set and later won four straight games from 2-4 to level the match.
Alcaraz surged in the decider, racing to 5-0 and showcasing his variety, including a sharply angled backhand slice that set up an early break chance. The victory came in just his third tournament since returning from a four-month wrist layoff and improved his season record to 28-4. He also moved to 6-0 at the event.
If Alcaraz beats Arnaldi, a potential third-round meeting with Denis Shapovalov looms. Shapovalov began his campaign by defeating Sho Shimabukuro 7-5, 6-1 and will meet Alejandro Tabilo next, after Tabilo upset seventh seed Tommy Paul. With Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, and Paul all out in the first round, Alcaraz is the only seeded player remaining in the top half of the draw. He holds a perfect head-to-head record against Arnaldi, having beaten him at the 2023 US Open and at Indian Wells in 2024.