Carlos Alcaraz v Taylor Fritz live: Japan Open final latest score and updates – UK Times

Carlos Alcaraz has 66 ATP Tour wins this season including a 51-3 run since April, but Taylor Fritz is second for tour wins with 49 this year.

The American has as many hard-court wins this season as Alcaraz, with 33 each, but is through to his first hard-court final of the year after titles at Eastbourne and Stuttgart.

He leads the ATP Tour for aces this season and hit 13 in his semi-final win over Jenson Brooksby.

Carlos Alcaraz has reached his 10th final of the season and is aiming for his eighth title of the year against Taylor Fritz.

The Spaniard becomes just the fifth man to reach 10 finals in a season since 2000, after Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

Federer did it seven times – including four years in a row between 2004 and 2007. Djokovic and Nadal did it five times each, while Murray achieved the feat in his 2016 season.

“At the Laver Cup against me, against Alexander Zverev and in this tournament … he’s feeling great and really comfortable on the court, so I’ll try to change a few things. Obviously the speed of the court and everything is different.

“It’s going to be another challenge for me but I’m excited about it and I will try to take the good things I’ve done today and the good things I did in San Francisco … it’s going to be an interesting match and I’m excited about playing it.”

World number one Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a slow start to beat Casper Ruud 3-6 6-3 6-4 and reach the Japan Open final where he will meet second seed Taylor Fritz with the chance to claim his eighth title of the year.

Alcaraz will also be seeking revenge in Tuesday’s clash in Tokyo after a shock defeat by Fritz at the Laver Cup in San Francisco this month, his first loss to the American in four career meetings.

Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 3-1, but Fritz won their last meeting at the Laver Cup, winning 6-3 6-2 in San Fransisco.

2025, Laver Cup (U.S.A.) Hard, RR, Fritz won 6-3 6-2

2025, Wimbledon (Great Britain), Grass, SF, Alcaraz won 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-6(6)

2024, Laver Cup (Germany), Hard, RR, Alcaraz won 6-2 7-5

2023, Miami (U.S.A.), Hard, QF, Alcaraz won 6-4 6-2

The Japan Open final will start at 10am UK time (6pm local).

It’s Alcaraz’s first appearance in the Japan Open final, on his debut in Tokyo, while Fritz is a former champion having won the tournament three years ago.

Carlos Alcaraz aims for his eighth title of the season as the World No 1 and bids for revenge against Taylor Fritz in the final of the Japan Open in Tokyo.

Alcaraz lost to Fritz at the Laver Cup in San Francisco earlier this month, with the American producing a superb performance to beat the six-time grand slam champion for the first time.

Only Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev have more wins this season than Fritz, who is bidding for his third title of the year and looks to be high in confidence after his Laver Cup heroics for Team World.