Japan Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz matches career best 65 season wins to reach Tokyo semi

The Carlos Alcaraz tennis school was in full session on Sunday night (28 September) in Tokyo.

World No. 1 Alcaraz matched a career-high with his 65th win in a single season, plowing through Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the Japan Open semi-finals.

Alcaraz will meet Casper Ruud in the last four on Monday. The Spaniard is 4-1 lifetime against the Norwegian but Ruud won their last head-to-head at the ATP Finals last year, in straight sets.

With victory over Ruud, Alcaraz can rewrite his own personal mark with still more two months left in the season. The six-times Grand Slam champion was proud of the career year he’s having.

“That means that I'm having the best season so far,” Alcaraz said. “I'm just really happy with the way that I'm doing things, the way that I'm approaching every tournament, every match.

“I think since the clay season started I've been playing one of my best tennis ever - if not the best - that I could play and I'm just really, really happy to equal my best season in terms of wins and having a few more tournaments ahead, really important ones which I’m really excited about playing and see how far I can go.

“Today, I played a great match. I just felt the ball really well today which I'm really proud about and hopefully keep it going the same way.”

Japan Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz beats ankle issue, then Zizou Berg to reach quarter-finals

Carlos Alcaraz on year 2025: 'The best season that I've ever done so far'

Alcaraz was too much for US rank-and-filer Nakashima on this evening at Ariake Colosseum, particularly in the first set.

He won 11 of 11 points on his first serve in the opener, 83 per cent for the match. Even on his second serve points, he cashed in on 80 per cent of the time.

Alcaraz brought out every shot in his arsenal on this evening that had the usually quiet Japanese crowd roaring with applause. He didn’t face a single break point in the 80-minute contest.

The left ankle he injured in his first match of the tournament is still not 100 per cent but Alcaraz has learned how to play with it - and then some.

“I’m thinking that I had to play more aggressive than normal because I just want to let him run much more than I do so that was my goal before the match.

“I hope that (the fans) are enjoying the matches, they are enjoying the tennis. And all I can say is thank you to the people who are supporting me because it's a great energy.”

In the other semi-final on Monday, second seed Taylor Fritz will see a US compatriot for the second straight day in Jenson Brooksby. Fritz on this day went the distance to beat Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3.

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