Carlos Alcaraz Saves Four Successive Set Points in Tokyo Turnaround
Japan
October 3, 2026
Carlos Alcaraz never ceases to amaze us – even when the chips are down.
His opponent in Tokyo, Matteo Arnaldi led 6-2 in the first-set breaker. The Italian was looking by far the better player against a tired-looking Alcaraz.
‘He was playing unbelievable tennis,’ admitted Carlitos. ‘I knew I had to do something different and perhaps win in three sets.
‘But I worked it out to win the breaker – and then I was able to relax more for the second set.’
The Spaniard swung into action with a stubborn defiance just when we thought he would concede that first set.
The unlikely tie-break comeback was engineered with a quiet self-assurance. And he topped it off with a delicious cross-court backhand volley.
Carlitos ultimately won the match with exactly the same flamboyant shot – one of the most difficult to execute in our beautiful game.
Carlos Alcaraz will bring thrilling entertainment and extraordinary skill to Wimbledon 2027. We just can’t wait.
He has won Wimbledon twice before – and won’t like the way his arch rival Jannik Sinner has taken centre stage in recent times.
Tennis is such a psychological game. And in Tokyo, Arnaldi just couldn’t cope with the way he had squandered his first-set advantage.
Carlitos gratefully lapped up all the chances he was given early in the second, Indeed it was barely a contest after Alcaraz had turned the tables in that dramatic breaker.
With typically athletic nonchalance, the champion made it seven successive victories in Tokyo by closing out 7-6 (8-6), 6-1.
Now he plays Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-finals. But the Canadian hasn’t been able to take a set off the favourite in their previous two meetings.
‘He is very aggressive and I know I’ll have to run a lot,’ said Alcaraz generously. ‘But I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do.’
More match time is exactly what the world’s favourite tennis player needs right now.
Carlos Alcaraz will be back to his very best in time for Wimbledon 2027. And we’d love to see a scintillating showdown against Sinner on Centre Court.
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