The Ariake Coliseum pulsed with quiet intensity under Sunday’s fading light, as Carlos Alcaraz stepped onto the hard courts of the Japan Open, his movements fluid despite the tape wrapping his ankle. What began as a potential test of resilience unfolded into a clinic of dominance, a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Brandon Nakashima that etched his name into the semifinals for the ninth straight tour-level event. This milestone win, the 65th of his season, echoed the personal best he forged in 2023, a quiet affirmation of a campaign defined by relentless pursuit amid mounting fatigue.
Alcaraz’s serve became the afternoon’s unassailable weapon, firing 25 winners that Nakashima could only chase, many curving inside-out to stretch the American wide before crosscourt backhands sealed the points. The hard surface’s true bounce amplified his one–two combinations, pulling Nakashima forward only to lash down-the-line replies that left him stranded. Yet the match’s tension crested at 5-4 in the second, where three match points slipped away on the return, testing the Spaniard’s composure in the lengthening shadows.
“I always say that closing a match is difficult,” Alcaraz said. “Even tougher when you had match points, like I did when I was returning. Losing that game, I thought it was going to be really difficult, but I just tried to maintain my focus and play some great points in the last game. I don’t think I’ve played a last game like this, so I’m really happy about it.”
Brushing off injury for fluid dominance
Having
brushed off concerns over an ankle injury suffered Thursday, Alcaraz glided across the court with explosive footwork, his underspin slices disrupting Nakashima’s flat returns and opening angles for aggressive forehands. The American fought valiantly, his steady baseline game holding firm in pockets, but the Spaniard’s depth and variety eroded his resolve, especially as the crowd’s murmurs swelled with each escalating rally. This performance, efficient yet laced with clutch resolve, revealed Alcaraz’s evolution in high-pressure moments, turning physical whispers of doubt into a psychological edge that propelled him forward.
The victory’s emotional undercurrent ran deep, a release from the season’s grind that has seen him defend titles and chase records under relentless scrutiny. Nakashima’s resistance highlighted the generational chasm, his errors mounting as Alcaraz varied paces, from heavy topspin to sharp slices that skidded low on the unforgiving hard courts. As the final game unfolded, the Spaniard’s focus sharpened like a blade, his down-the-line winner drawing roars that echoed the relief of a player reclaiming his rhythm.
Semifinal stakes heighten tactical edges
Now Alcaraz prepares for Casper Ruud, who dispatched Aleksandar Vukic in under an hour with a 6-3, 6-2 rout, his baseline grind a contrast to the Spaniard’s flair that promises probing inside-in forehands and net rushes. Ruud’s heavy spin on hard courts will demand adjustments, yet Alcaraz thrives in such puzzles, his adaptability a key to extending this semifinal streak and bolstering his year-end standing. The ATP Tour confirms this as his 65th triumph, a statistic that underscores the endurance fueling his ascent.
Across the draw, Taylor Fritz endured a gritty battle to edge Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, his booming serve anchoring the comeback through tiebreak tension. Jenson Brooksby, meanwhile, upset third seed Holger Rune 6-3, 6-3, his crafty returns and slices turning the Dane’s power against him on the quick surface. These American semifinals brew baseline storms, where pace and placement will decide progression, mirroring the strategic layers Alcaraz has woven into his own path. As Tokyo’s lights flicker on for the weekend’s climax, the Spaniard carries not just victories, but the quiet fire of a season poised for one more defining arc.
