TENNIS – CARLOS Alcaraz made another slow start before cruising past unseeded Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4) 6-4 in the Japan Open final yesterday to retain his title and continue his resurgence after a lengthy wrist injury layoff.
The ATP 500 tournament victory is Alcaraz’s third of the year after the Australian Open and Qatar Open, before the 23-year-old was sidelined for nearly five months and returned at the US Open in late August.
“I’m really happy to be able to lift a trophy again,” Alcaraz said. “It’s been a while and obviously it’s extra special after my injury and my comeback, in the second tournament that I’m playing.
“It was a really tough week and I didn’t play my best tennis and my best level but I did find good solutions and that’s what matters in the end.”
Alcaraz became the first man to go back-to-back in Tokyo since American Pete Sampras in 1993-94.
The world number three started shakily, dropping serve in the first game, but soon recovered and dialled up the intensity to break world number 19 Lehecka’s serve with a scorching backhand to level at 3-3.
More errors from Alcaraz gave Lehecka hope in the tiebreak, but the Spaniard unleashed a drop-shot en route to clinching the opening set to lay the platform for his 27th title overall.
&uuid=(email))