{ "id": "205372", "author": "23", "cnmid": "1400536", "title": "Alcaraz Reaches Tokyo Semi-finals After Shapovalov Retires", "lang": "en", "series": "1", "cup_year": "2026", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Japan Open Tennis Championships: Carlos Alcaraz moved into the semi-finals of the Japan Open Tennis Championships on Sunday after Denis Shapovalov was forced to retire early in the second set of their quarter-final. The top seed, who survived a tense opening set, was leading 7-6(3), 2-1 when Shapovalov ended his challenge after 82 minutes.\r\n", "subtype": null, "editor1": "

Japan Open Tennis Championships:<\/strong>  Carlos Alcaraz moved into the semi-finals of the Japan Open Tennis Championships on Sunday after Denis Shapovalov was forced to retire early in the second set of their quarter-final. The top seed, who survived a tense opening set, was leading 7-6(3), 2-1 when Shapovalov ended his challenge after 82 minutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The match had swung repeatedly before the defending champion managed to take control. Shapovalov established a 5-3 advantage in the opening set and had a set point at 5-4, 30\/40, but Alcaraz produced a drop shot to save the opportunity. The Spaniard then raised his level in the tie-break to claim a crucial lead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“It was a little bit frustrating with my serve. I couldn’t find a good way of serving: I was struggling almost every game on serve,” Alcaraz, who dropped serve three times in the first set, said. “But I’m just happy with the way I came back after every break. It was a great first set: Great points, great rallies.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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The opening set was an unusually volatile affair, with six breaks of serve. Shapovalov failed to convert his advantage when he had the chance to close it out at 5-3, allowing Alcaraz to immediately level.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Alcaraz then had his own chance to finish the set while serving at 6-5, but Shapovalov produced another break, this time without dropping a point. The Canadian’s resistance ultimately lasted only until the tie-break, where Alcaraz put together the decisive run.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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The momentum shifted for a different reason at the beginning of the second set. Shapovalov appeared to hurt his hip while stretching for a forehand on the run. He received an off-court medical timeout after the first game, but after returning to the court, the former World No. 10 was unable to carry on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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“It’s a shame that he had to pull out,” Alcaraz added. “Going through to a semi-final like this is not the way I wanted, but sometimes sports are tough. You have to accept it. Hopefully he’s going to be able to play in Shanghai healthy.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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The result keeps Alcaraz’s unbeaten run at the Tokyo ATP 500 event intact. The 23-year-old has now won eight consecutive matches at the tournament, having captured the title on his debut in 2025.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Awaiting Alcaraz in the last four will be Jaume Munar, who continued his run through the draw with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Kyrian Jacquet. The Spaniard entered the tournament as a qualifier and has already made a major impact, including a first-round victory over third seed Taylor Fritz.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Alcaraz holds a 3-1 ATP head-to-head record against Munar and will look to extend that advantage in their semi-final. Munar, meanwhile, is appearing in his eighth ATP Tour semi-final and his first since Basel last October.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Awaiting Alcaraz in the last four will be Jaume Munar, who continued his run through the draw with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Kyrian Jacquet. The Spaniard entered the tournament as a qualifier and has already made a major impact, including a first-round victory over third seed Taylor Fritz.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Also Read: <\/strong> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Article Source: IANS<\/a><\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2026\/10\/alcaraz-reaches-tokyo-semi-finals-after-shapovalov-retires.JPG", "alt_img": "Alcaraz reaches Tokyo semi-finals after Shapovalov retires", "alt_title": "New York: US Open 2026 - Mens Singles", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Alcaraz Reaches Tokyo Semi-finals After Shapovalov Retires On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Alcaraz Reaches Tokyo Semi-finals After Shapovalov Retires, Japan Open Tennis Championships: Carlos Alcaraz moved into the semi-finals of the Japan Open Tennis Championships on Sunday after Denis.", "seo_keywords": "Carlos Alcaraz, Japan Open Tennis Championships, Denis Shapovalov, The Spaniard, The Canadian, World No, Tokyo ATP, Awaiting Alcaraz, Jaume Munar, Kyrian Jacquet, Taylor Fritz, ATP Tour, ATP Live Rankings", "tag": "", "tagging": "Carlos Alcaraz,Japan Open Tennis Championships,Denis Shapovalov,World No,Tokyo ATP,Awaiting Alcaraz,Jaume Munar,Kyrian Jacquet,Taylor Fritz,ATP Tour,ATP Live Rankings", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "alcaraz-reaches-tokyo-semi-finals-after-shapovalov-retires", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "10", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2026-10-04 13:26:02", "updated": "2026-10-04 14:13:01", "img_from": "New York: US Open 2026 - Mens Singles", "img_source": "Image Source: IANS", "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Carlos Alcaraz, Japan Open Tennis Championships, Denis Shapovalov, The Spaniard, The Canadian, World No, Tokyo ATP, Awaiting Alcaraz, Jaume Munar, Kyrian Jacquet, Taylor Fritz, ATP Tour, ATP Live Rankings", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "13", "jio_date": "2026-10-04 14:13:01", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": "2026-10-04 14:13:01", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": "Latest Cricket News", "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/alcaraz-reaches-tokyo-semi-finals-after-shapovalov-retires-205372" }