Alcaraz overcomes Fritz in Tokyo final but steps away from Shanghai Masters
Carlos Alcaraz’s season has often felt like a pendulum swinging between brilliance and bruises. In Tokyo, the brilliance returned. Nine days after Taylor Fritz toppled him at the Laver Cup, the World No. 1 got his revenge when he beat the American 6-4, 6-4 in the Japan Open final.
The win gave the Spaniard his eighth title of the year. However, the celebrations in Tokyo meant gloom in China because Alcaraz soon after pulled out of the upcoming Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament, citing the need to ‘rest and recover’ from lingering physical issues.
The title itself was emphatic for the reigning US Open champion — who playing this event for the first time looked every bit the player who has built a tour-leading 67 wins in 2025.
His forehand, which registered a 9.7 shot quality during the opening set, dictated play from the baseline and regularly left Fritz scrambling to find answers. Alcaraz converted on his sixth break point late in the first set and then held his nerve to serve it out.
Fritz, who was battling a strapped thigh and required two medical timeouts during the match, could not keep pace with the Spaniard’s relentless variety and energy.
For Alcaraz, the win extends a remarkable response to his Wimbledon final loss to arch-rival Jannik Sinner. Since then, the Spaniard has swept titles in Cincinnati, the US Open, and now Tokyo. His 24th career crown also saw him tie Alexander Zverev for the most titles won by any man born since 1990.
“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.”
This week, however, wasn’t entirely smooth for Alcaraz, who twisted his ankle in his opening-round victory against Sebastian Baez. He joked afterwards about ‘the five minutes I was on the floor’ but the injury scare surely lingered in the background.
His decision to skip Shanghai feels less like a surprise than a precaution — a reminder that even in a season of triumphs, durability remains the great equalizer.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover,” wrote Alcaraz on his Instagram channel. Last year, he reached the quarterfinals in Shanghai; however, this time he’s going to be watching from afar.
