Tokyo, Japan, October 6 (ANI): After an injury-riddled 2026 season, Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz returned to winning ways, defeating Jiri Lehecka to defend his Japan Open Tennis Championships title on Tuesday.
Alcaraz, the world No. 3, defeated Lehecka 7-6(4), 6-4 in the final of the hard-court ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo.
The multiple Grand Slam champion was kept on his toes by a determined Lehecka, but Alcaraz produced moments of brilliance to earn his first tour-level title since February, when he won in Doha.
“I am really happy to be able to lift a trophy again,” Alcaraz said, as quoted by the ATP’s official website. He missed tournaments between Barcelona in April and the U.S. Open in late August because of a wrist injury.
“It has been a while, and obviously it is extra special after my injury. My comeback, in the second tournament that I have played, lifting a trophy means a lot,” he added.
“I am really happy about it. A tough week. I did not find my best level, but I did find the good solutions, and I think that is what matters at the end. Playing the most important points the best you can. I think I did it this week. I would say today was the best match of the week, or at least more consistent, the level that I played,” Alcaraz said.
With his win over Lehecka in more than an hour and a half, Alcaraz’s record in ATP 500 tournaments improved to 21-0 after his loss to Holger Rune in the 2025 Barcelona final.
He also became just the third player on the elite list of those who have successfully defended the Tokyo title, joining two former world No. 1s and legends, Stefan Edberg, who won three consecutive titles from 1989 to 1991, and Pete Sampras, who triumphed in 1993 and 1994.
Speaking about whether he feared he might not win another trophy during his time dealing with injuries, Alcaraz admitted that he experienced negative thoughts but tried to keep them at bay.
“Obviously, a lot of negative thoughts come to your mind. If you are going to come back healthy, if you are going to come back the same as I was before. If I will be able to hit the ball normally without pain at all. A lot of thoughts came to my mind, but I tried to put those thoughts away all the time.
“My team and I knew that if I come back I was going to feel 100 per cent. If I feel something, the comeback is not going to be anything, so I just have to go full for every shot, every ball, and I trust my team, I trust myself, and it worked out,” he said. (ANI)
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