Alcaraz holds off Lehecka to win back-to-back Japan Open titles
Carlos Alcaraz beat Jiri Lehecka 7-6, 6-4 to win the Japan Open final in Tokyo on 6 October and keep his crown in the Japanese capital. The Guardian
The top seed held his nerve in the big moments against the world No. 19 from the Czech Republic. It is his first individual title since February and his second in a row in Tokyo.
It is also a comeback story. This was only Alcaraz’s third tournament back after four-and-a-half months out with a right wrist injury, and his first final since his return. ESPN
Lehecka started the bolder of the two. He led 3-1 in the first set before Alcaraz levelled at 3-3 and forced the tie-break, the race to seven points that settles a set at 6-6.
Lehecka led that shootout too. Alcaraz trailed 2-4, then won five points in a row to steal the set. No panic. Just cleaner hitting when it mattered.
The second set stayed on serve until the seventh game. Alcaraz broke serve there, taking Lehecka’s service game to lead 4-3, and he did not let the advantage slip.
What makes this stand out is the timing. Alcaraz began the year by winning his seventh major title to complete the career Grand Slam at the Australian Open, then won in Doha before the layoff. To return and win again so quickly asks real patience.
His week in Tokyo tested that patience. He saved four set points to beat Matteo Arnaldi 7-6(6), 6-1 in one hour and 46 minutes to reach the quarter-finals, moved into the semi-finals after Denis Shapovalov retired, then came from a set down to beat fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar 5-7, 6-3, 6-1. ATP Tour He had dropped 16 points in a row at the end of that first set against Munar.
Lehecka, playing the ATP 500 event for the first time, had reached the final by beating eighth seed Vacherot in one hour and nine minutes. Alcaraz had already beaten him 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 on the way to last year’s US Open semi-finals.
For fans, this means the year-end race sharpens. Jannik Sinner will miss the rest of the 2026 season with inflammation in his knee, which leaves more room at the top for a fit Alcaraz to chase.
