Japan Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz roars back to beat Casper Ruud, to take on Taylor Fritz in final

Carlos Alcaraz came from behind to beat Casper Ruud in three sets to reach the Japan Open tennis final in Tokyo on Monday (29 September) - his 10th final of the season.

World No. 1 and top seed Alcaraz got it done the hard way to progress 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 against the Norwegian and will play second-seeded Taylor Fritz of the US on Tuesday for his ATP Tour-leading eighth title of the campaign.

“Today was a very tough match,” Alcaraz said. “I couldn’t take the opportunities in the first set.

“Emotionally it was really, really tough to deal with everything today but I’m just really happy to be able to turn everything around. I’m excited to be playing in another final.”

Not since Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in 2011 have the top two seeds at the Japan Open met in the final. Alcaraz is the first man since 1990 to reach nine consecutive finals on the tour.

Monday’s win also marked a new career best 66th in a single season for the six-times Grand Slam champion Alcaraz.

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Alcaraz dropped his first set of the tournament versus Ruud, who had the last laugh in their most recent match-up at the 2024 ATP Finals, winning in the round robin in straight sets.

Ruud appeared to have picked up where he left off in Turin, frustrating Alcaraz throughout the contest that ran for 2 hours, 8 minutes.

Alcaraz struggled to break Ruud all night, being able to convert only two of nine opportunities against his opponent who visibly frustrated the Spaniard with his pesky play.

Alcaraz had to calm himself down going into the second set, which he said was critical to his turnaround. Not to mention the 11 aces he hammered.

“I was playing well so it was just about telling a few things to myself and after that trying to be better,” the 22-year-old said.

“I think that was the key, that I calmed myself I calm down, see everything a little bit more clear and just go for it.

“I had four break points in the first set so I knew that I was going to have more chances and it was about just staying there strong as much as I can. started to talk positive to myself and I think that was the key.”

Alcaraz played Fritz just two weekends ago at the Laver Cup, suffering his first career loss to the world No. 5 then.

Alcaraz said he has had an idea as to how to adjust against the 2022 champion Fritz for the final. The two also practised together upon their arrival in Japan.

“He's a really difficult player to play against,” Alcaraz said of Fritz, who is the tour leader in wins since grass season began on 9 June.

“I think he has improved a lot. I came from San Francisco from losing against him so I'm obviously practising the first day with him. I think that practice gave me a really good feedback as to how I should approach the match.

“His level is pretty high right now, he's really solid he's playing aggressive and he has a lot of confidence. I'm excited about taking the challenge and we will see tomorrow.”

Fritz, for his part, said he would have to take the game to Alcaraz as he did at the Laver Cup, though he wasn’t going to lose much sleep over prepping for the match.

“If it's Carlos, I think I need to be a little bit more forceful because I think he'll beat to the punch of being aggressive if I try to take my time.

“But like I said, I don't really watch too much because I've played these people before. I have a very good memory as well. When I play a match I can remember almost every single point, exactly what happened at the match.

“So there's not much replaying in my head a lot. Maybe I'll refresh and watch a little bit but I don't typically watch too much.”

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