Tennis

Carlos Alcaraz Advances to Japan Open Quarterfinals with Straight-Sets Win

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Oct 3, 2026, 20:14 IST

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz secured his place in the Japan Open quarterfinals by defeating Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (6), 6-1, setting up a last-eight clash against Denis Shapovalov in Tokyo.

Carlos Alcaraz Advances to Japan Open Quarterfinals with Straight-Sets Win

Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz continued his steady return to competitive tennis on Saturday, moving into the quarterfinals of the Japan Open after a straight-sets victory over Matteo Arnaldi. The Spaniard navigated a challenging opening set before finding his rhythm to close out the match 7-6 (6), 6-1 in Tokyo.

This performance marks another positive step for the world-ranked star, who is currently building momentum following a four-month absence from the tour due to a wrist injury. His recent schedule has seen him gradually increase his match load, including a successful appearance at the Laver Cup last week where he contributed to Team Europe’s victory with a singles win over Taylor Fritz.

Setting Up a Quarterfinal Showdown

The victory over Arnaldi follows a period of transition for Alcaraz, who previously faced a tough exit at the US Open quarterfinals against Ben Shelton in a late-night encounter. By overcoming his Italian opponent in straight sets on Saturday, he has successfully navigated his way into the final eight of the Japan Open draw.

Alcaraz is now set to face Denis Shapovalov in the next round. Shapovalov earned his spot in the quarterfinals earlier on Saturday after a hard-fought three-set battle against Alejandro Tabilo, eventually prevailing 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. The upcoming match between the top seed and the Canadian will determine who advances to the tournament semifinals.