Action exploded across the China and Japan Opens as Carlos Alcaraz and Britain’s Harriet Dart and Sonay Kartal claimed victories, while Cam Norrie and Arthur Fery were eliminated.
Alcaraz survived three set points, snatching a volatile opening set from Alex Michelsen with a dominant tiebreak, then continued testing his accelerated serve, surrendering two early games in the second set.
The 23‑year‑old Spaniard, who had flirted with top form en route to the US Open quarters after a long injury layoff, rallied forward but a double fault in the seventh gave Michelsen a lifeline.
Michelsen seized the chance, staying cool as a lucky net‑cord winner left Alcaraz stranded, forcing a decisive third set.
Fresh from steering Team Europe to a Laver Cup win in London, Alcaraz blamed Tokyo’s relentless rain for limiting his practice.
The conditions felt alien, he said, with a bigger ball and slower courts making the adjustment “freaky.”
He admitted frustration at being unable to unleash his usual aggressive style, yet praised his ability to adapt and secure the win.
The experience, he added, will be crucial for the upcoming round, giving him a clear roadmap.
A flurry of spectacular points built a 2‑0 lead in the final set, allowing the seven‑time Grand Slam champion to cruise to a comfortable victory amid the tournament’s upsets. For my money, Alcaraz’s resilience signals his return to dominance.
The top seed’s triumph followed third seed Taylor Fritz’s loss to qualifier Jaume Munar 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 6-3, sixth seed Casper Ruud falling to Luciano Darderi 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 and seventh seed Tommy Paul being beaten 6-1 6-2 by Alejandro Tabilo.
Holger Rune, the former world No 4 battling back from an Achilles tear, also went out 6-3 6-1 to Kyrian Jacquet.
Exits for Norrie and Fery as Dart, Kartal progress
Norrie dropped a 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 defeat to newly crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev in Beijing’s first-round China Open clash.
The Brit squandered a set-point chance before folding in the subsequent tiebreak after taking the opening point.
Zverev, eyeing a push toward world No 1 Jannik Sinner, seized a pivotal break in the ninth game of the second set and then closed out the match.
It marked Zverev’s ninth straight main-tour win over Norrie, who was returning after a disappointing early exit at Flushing Meadows.
British No 1 Fery suffered a shock 4-6 6-3 4-6 first-round loss to Portugal’s Jaime Faria at the Japan Open.
Fery had been slated to face Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, but the world No 25 withdrew with a finger injury.
World No 68 Faria stepped in, jumping to an early lead in Tokyo before Fery steadied and forced a deciding third set.
Nevertheless, he couldn’t break Faria’s serve in the final set, allowing the Portuguese to seal the win in just over two hours.
At the women’s China Open, Kartal earned her first tour win since March, dispatching Spain’s Andrea Lazaro Garcia 6-2 6-3 to reach the second round.
Fellow Brit Dart also advanced, surviving a marathon three-hour duel with China’s Qu Yihan in Beijing.
The 30‑year‑old Londoner ultimately triumphed 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 7-5.
Nishikori bids farewell to pro career
Kei Nishikori said an emotional goodbye to his pro career in Tokyo, falling 6-4 6-4 to second seed Frances Tiafoe.
The 36‑year‑old former US Open finalist, once ranked No 4, had earlier admitted mixed feelings about his final elite-level show on home soil.
“I’m excited to play in Japan, but I know this is my last moment,” he reflected, adding, “It’s kind of sad.”
Nishikori announced in May his plan to retire at year‑end and received a wild‑card for the Japan Open, a tournament he captured in 2012 and 2014.
He missed the Australian Open in January due to a right‑shoulder issue and has battled injuries for several seasons, also skipping last year’s US Open.
Since turning pro in 2007, Nishikori became the first Japanese man to reach a Grand Slam final at the 2014 US Open, where he lost in straight sets to Marin Čilić.