Carlos Alcaraz capped a sensational week in Tokyo by lifting the Japan Open 2025 trophy after defeating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final on Tuesday. The World No. 1 produced a clinical display at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships, securing his eighth title of the year just over a week after losing to the same opponent at the Laver Cup. The Spaniard now holds a Tour-leading 67 wins in 2025, putting him within reach of Jannik Sinner’s 73-win record from last season.
“It’s been my best season so far without a doubt,” Alcaraz said. “Eight titles, 10 finals… That shows how hard I’ve worked just to be able to experience these moments and accomplish my goals. I didn’t start the year that good, struggling emotionally, so how I came back from that, I’m just really proud of myself, and of all the people around me who have helped me to be in this position.”
Alcaraz Levels Zverev’s Title Tally With 24th Career Trophy
The 22-year-old Spaniard has been in relentless form since his loss to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final. He has now captured three titles in a row — triumphing in Cincinnati, winning the US Open, and finishing his debut in Tokyo with another crown. The latest victory brings his career total to 24 tour-level titles, matching Alexander Zverev for the most titles among players born after 1990.
Taylor Fritz, who required two medical timeouts for a thigh issue, was unable to contain Alcaraz’s aggressive baseline game. Despite the loss, the American climbed to fifth place in the ATP Live Race to Turin, keeping his chances alive for the Nitto ATP Finals.
High-Quality Final Despite Early Setbacks
The Tokyo final — the first ATP 500 title match between two Top-5 players in a year — featured electric rallies and bold shot-making. Carlos Alcaraz appeared briefly troubled by an ankle scare in his first-round match but shook it off to dominate the final.
Armed with a powerful forehand and precise returns, he broke Fritz on his sixth chance to take the opening set. During that stretch, his forehand shot quality reached 9.7, with seven winners and only four unforced errors.
“I enjoyed every single second, [apart from] the five minutes I was on the floor after I hurt my ankle,” Alcaraz joked. “I’m really happy with the level that I played, with everything. Starting the week not good with the ankle, and the way that I came back from that, I’m just really happy about it.”
Fritz briefly fought back with a break late in the second set, but Alcaraz stayed composed and closed the match in 93 minutes. The victory extended his Head2Head record against Fritz to 4-1, underscoring his dominance.
With this latest triumph, Carlos Alcaraz continues to set the pace in men’s tennis, pushing closer to a historic season and strengthening his grip on the World No. 1 ranking.
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