Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fought back from a set down to beat fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 and reach the Japan Open final on Monday, moving a step closer to his first title since returning from a wrist injury.
In Beijing, Novak Djokovic rolled back the years to knock out top seed Alexander Zverev at the China Open, extending his remarkable unbeaten run in the Chinese capital to 32 matches, The Express Tribune reported, citing AFP.
Alcaraz recovers in Tokyo
Alcaraz, 23, was cruising at 5-4 in the first set before two shaky service games handed it to Munar. After a slow start to the second, he raised his level to force a decider, then wore Munar down with stunning shot-making.
He will face either Jiri Lehecka or Valentin Vacherot in Tuesday’s final.
The world number three completed the career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open in February, but injured his wrist two months later. He returned at the US Open, reaching the quarter-finals, and played well for Team Europe at the Laver Cup last month. A win in Tokyo would be his first singles title since his comeback, and he is a seven-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic stuns Zverev
Djokovic, 39, beat world number two Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 34 minutes, despite facing 19 aces.
He started badly, double-faulting twice in the first game to drop serve. Boos then filled the stadium when the umpire agreed to replay a point Djokovic had won, after Zverev complained about a flicker in the LED panels. But the Serb broke back to take the second set and broke again at 5-4 in the third to win.
“Evidence to me that I can still beat the best players in the world on the biggest stage,” Djokovic said, calling it one of his best matches of the year, alongside his five-set win over Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open. “It’s hard to be consistently playing on the highest level like the youngsters,” he admitted.
He faces Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals, while Hubert Hurkacz plays Alex de Minaur in the other.
Swiatek and Zheng survive
In the women’s draw, former world number one Iga Swiatek came back to beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2. “I was just angry, wanted to change something, because clearly it wasn’t working,” the 25-year-old said. She faces American teenager Iva Jovic next.
Home favourite Zheng Qinwen survived her third three-setter of the tournament, beating Marie Bouzkova 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-5. “I gave everything,” she said, admitting she felt “a lot of pressure”.
Top seeds fall
The women’s draw has lost its top two seeds:
- Elena Rybakina, the new world number one, lost to 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva in the second round
- Aryna Sabalenka was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by 20-year-old Czech Nikola Bartunkova, throwing her racquet in frustration during the match
Coco Gauff is now the highest-ranked player left in the women’s draw.
Why it matters
The autumn Asian swing is showing a sport in transition: Alcaraz rebuilding after injury, Djokovic still beating the best at 39, and the women’s draw thrown wide open by early exits from its two biggest names. Read our report on Verstappen’s win in Malaysia.
This article draws on reporting by The Express Tribune and AFP.
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