TOKYO – Top ranked Carlos Alcaraz won the eighth singles title this year by defeating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the Japan Open on Tuesday.
Alcaraz’s 24th professional singles champion was a clever, sliced champion and lost two sets last week in the Laver Cup team match.
Espanyol also raised his season record to a top 67-7 as he has been ranked No. 1 at the end of the season.
“It’s my best season so far, without a doubt,” Alkaraz said. “It shows that my efforts are to be able to experience these moments and achieve my goals.”
The Tokyo final was Alcaraz’s ninth straight win since he lost 64 rounds in the Miami Masters. In those finals, he was 7-2, one of them at Wimbledon, Jannik Sinner.
“I didn’t start that year and struggle emotionally, so how I came back, I was just very proud of myself and everyone around who helped me in this position.”
Fritz had a medical timeout after he was treated on his left thigh in the first set, which was tied up during the second set conversion.
