Carlos Alcaraz survives a first-set collapse to battle past Jaume Munara to reach the Japan Open final

World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz (Image: IANS) Carlos Alcaraz survived a major upset before finding another gear to book his place in the Japan Open final, beating fellow Spaniard Jaume Munara 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 at Tokyo’s Ariake Coliseum on Monday.The defending champion appeared on course to close out the opening set, leading 5-3 and serving for it. Instead, his momentum disappeared as Munar won 16 straight points to grab the set and put Alcaraz under pressure. But the world number three responded like the defending champions, raising their level in the second set before taking complete control in the decider to seal victory in two hours and 31 minutes.

Alcaraz lets the first set slip away

Alcaraz looked comfortable early on but couldn’t capitalize on his 5-3 advantage. Munar broke back as the Spaniard served out the set and then held to move 6-5 ahead before breaking again to take the opening set.That continued the trend for Alcaraz in Tokyo, where he was forced to go deep in the opening sets throughout the tournament. He needed tiebreaks to get past Denis Shapovalov, Matteo Arnaldi and Alex Michelsen in the previous three rounds. However, there was no need for a tiebreak comeback against Munar. Alcaraz had to find another way back into the competition.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion shifts gears

Alcaraz put the disappointment behind him in the second set. He took a 2-1 lead and added another break to move ahead 4-2 before securing a third break to close out the set 6-3. His first-serve efficiency also improved, while his heavy forehand and well-timed drop shots began to unsettle Munar.The third set was almost entirely one-way. Alcaraz raced to a 4-0 lead with two breaks and never allowed his compatriot to develop any momentum. Munar was able to hold once, but Alcaraz calmly served out the match 6-1.

Alcaraz is back in the final after a long break

The win takes Alcaraz into his first final since returning from a four-and-a-half-month layoff caused by a right wrist injury. He also remains on course to defend the Tokyo title he won in 2025 when he defeated Taylor Fritz in the final.Alcaraz will face Czech Jiří Lehecká in the championship match after the 19th-ranked player beat Monaco’s Valentino Vacherot 6-4, 6-2 in the other semi-final.