Carlos Alcaraz reaches Tokyo semifinals as Denis Shapovalov retires with thigh injury
Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the Japan Open semifinals at 7-6(3), 2-1 after Denis Shapovalov suffered an upper thigh injury, setting up an all-Spanish clash with Jaume Munar.
Hard-fought opening set in Tokyo
Carlos Alcaraz reached the semifinals of the ATP 500 Japan Open in Tokyo after Denis Shapovalov retired with an injury in the second set. The world number three faced difficulties early in the match against the 27-year-old Canadian, who mixed deep baseline drives, drop shots, power, and spin to disrupt his rhythm. After Shapovalov held in the opening game, Alcaraz answered with serves reaching 200 km/h to level at 1-1. Both players traded games through 2-2, with Alcaraz drawing applause for a deceptive drop shot in the fourth game before Shapovalov held from 40-40 in the fifth. Shapovalov used a backhand strike to break serve in the sixth game for a 4-2 lead. Alcaraz struck back immediately by targeting the corners to break for 3-4, but lost serve again as Shapovalov moved ahead 5-3. Serving for the set at 5-4, Shapovalov held a set point, but Alcaraz defended with two drop shots, pushed the tenth game through deuce, and leveled the score at 5-5. After Shapovalov held to force a tie-break at 6-6, the Canadian took a 2-0 lead, but Alcaraz recovered to win the tie-break 7-3 with a passing shot, closing the 67-minute opening set despite losing 29 points on serve.
- Carlos Alcaraz
- 3
- Denis Shapovalov
- 46
- Jaume Munar
- 64
- Kyrian Jacquet
- 86
Injury halts Shapovalov in second set
The Canadian world number 46 struggled physically immediately after the first set, suffering pain in his right hip and upper right thigh. Shapovalov called for the tournament physiotherapist during the changeover, but the treatment failed to relieve the discomfort. He managed to win one game in the second set while dropping two before deciding he could not continue. Shapovalov retired after the third game, ending the contest with the score at 7-6(3), 2-1 in Alcaraz's favor after one hour and 22 minutes of play. The result sent the defending Tokyo champion into his fifth semifinal of 2026. The Japan Open represents only the third tournament for the Australian Open champion since returning from a wrist injury that sidelined him for months, following a quarterfinal appearance at the US Open in September. Alcaraz had also survived four set points in his previous round on Saturday against Matteo Arnaldi, where he came back from 2-6 down in a tie-break.
- Alcaraz saves four set points to defeat Matteo Arnaldi in the round of 16
- Munar defeats Jacquet and Alcaraz advances when Shapovalov retires at 2-1 in set two
- Alcaraz and Munar face each other in their fifth career head-to-head semifinal meeting
Munar sets up all-Spanish semifinal
Alcaraz will face fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar on Monday for a spot in the Tokyo final. Munar, the world number 64, advanced earlier on Sunday by defeating France's 86th-ranked Kyrian Jacquet 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 41 minutes. The victory gives Munar his first ATP semifinal berth since the Swiss Indoors in Basel nearly a year ago. The tournament run guarantees Munar an ascent of at least 15 spots in the ATP rankings, moving him back into the world top 50 after dropping out earlier this season due to physical issues. The upcoming semifinal will be the fifth tour-level meeting between Alcaraz and Munar, with Alcaraz holding a 3-1 lead in their head-to-head series.
