Carlos Alcaraz has reached the semifinal of the Japan Open in Tokyo. In the quarterfinal of the ATP 500 hard-court tournament, the Spaniard, seeded first, faced Denis Shapovalov. The match ended 7-6, 2-1, with the Canadian retiring during the second set. This is reported by api.tennis.
The main battle unfolded in the first set. The players took it to a tiebreak, in which Alcaraz proved stronger. Only three games were played in the second set, and with the score at 2-1, Shapovalov retired from the match.
Road through the draw
In Tokyo, all three of Alcaraz's matches began with a first-set tiebreak. In the round of 32, he defeated Alex Michelsen 7-6, 4-6, 6-1. That remains the only match at the tournament in which the Spaniard has dropped a set. In the round of 16, Alcaraz defeated Matteo Arnaldi 7-6, 6-1.
Shapovalov competed unseeded. In the round of 32, he defeated Sho Shimabukuro 7-5, 6-1, and in the round of 16 he came out on top in three sets against Alejandro Tabilo: 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. According to rank.tennis, the Canadian is ranked 41st with 1195 points. Alcaraz holds third place with 5260 points.