Carlos Alcaraz completed a successful return from a lengthy injury layoff by retaining his Japan Open title on Tuesday, beating unseeded Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4), 6-4 in the final.The Spaniard, who endured a slow start yet again, eventually found his rhythm to claim his third title of the year and 27th overall. The ATP 500 triumph came in only his second tournament since returning from a wrist injury that kept him sidelined for nearly five months.Alcaraz made his comeback at the US Open in late August and has now quickly rediscovered his winning touch. He had earlier won the Australian Open and Qatar Open this year.
Alcaraz overcomes slow start to retain title
The world No. 3 began the final nervously, dropping his serve in the opening game, but quickly settled and raised the intensity. He broke world No. 19 Lehecka with a powerful backhand to level the first set at 3-3 and gradually took control of the contest.The Czech continued to put pressure on Alcaraz and took advantage of some uncharacteristic errors in the tiebreak, but the Spaniard responded with a sublime drop shot before closing out the opening set 7-4 in the tiebreak.Alcaraz then took control midway through the second set, breaking Lehecka to move 4-3 ahead. He completed the victory by forcing an error on match point before celebrating enthusiastically with his team courtside.The title made Alcaraz the first player since American great Pete Sampras in 1993-94 to win the Japan Open in consecutive years. More importantly, it provided another confidence boost after the uncertainty of his injury-enforced absence.“I’m really happy to be able to lift a trophy again,” Alcaraz said. “It’s been a while and obviously it’s extra special after my injury and my comeback, in the second tournament that I’m playing.“It was a really tough week and I didn’t play my best tennis and my best level but I did find good solutions and that’s what matters in the end.”
‘A lot of negative thoughts come to your mind’
Alcaraz admitted that his injury layoff had brought plenty of uncertainty about whether he would be able to return at his previous level. Winning a title so soon after his comeback has helped put those concerns behind him.“A lot of negative thoughts come to your mind,” Alcaraz added.“If you’re going to come back healthy, if you’re going to come back the same as you were before, if I will be able to hit the ball normally without pain. I trusted myself and it worked out.”The 23-year-old will now turn his attention to the Shanghai Masters, where he will face Juan Manuel Cerundolo or a qualifier in his opening match. The ATP 1000 tournament’s main draw begins on Wednesday, with Alcaraz carrying the momentum of his successful Tokyo title defence into the next stage of his comeback.
