Alcaraz Overcomes Teething Trouble on Tweaked Serve to Beat Michelsen in Tokyo
Alcaraz overcame early serve issues and a second-set wobble to advance, while three other seeded players exited in first-round upsets.
- On Thursday in Tokyo, Carlos Alcaraz kept his Japan Open title defense alive by defeating American Alex Michelsen 7-6 4-6 6-1, overcoming wobbles on his retooled serve.
- Following his Laver Cup triumph last weekend, Alcaraz struggled to adjust to Tokyo's slower courts, which he found 'a little bit frustrating' to navigate during his opening match.
- The ATP 500 tournament saw major upsets on Thursday as third seed Taylor Fritz, sixth seed Casper Ruud, and seventh seed Tommy Paul all lost their opening matches.
- Alcaraz said, 'It was really important to have this feeling for the next round, to know what I have to do for the next matches,' reflecting on his tactical adjustment.
- The top seed now faces Italian Matteo Arnaldi in the next round, aiming to continue his momentum as he seeks to defend his title at the Japan Open.
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35 Articles
Alcaraz begins Japan Open defence with win over Michelsen
The Spanish world number three struggled to find his rhythm early on, spraying shots long or into the net as the big-serving American stayed aggressive. He pulled away in the tie-break but was pinned back in the second set, with Michelsen, ranked 34th, gaining parity after a marathon 10th game. From there, though, the seven-time Grand Slam champion suddenly found form, mixing a barrage of blistering aces with delicate volleys to nullify his oppo…
Alcaraz, who since mid-April played only the US Open in August and the Laver Cup, an exhibition tournament, last weekend, for a wrist injury, was imposed for 7-6 (7/1), 4-6 and 6-1 on the American Alex Michelsen (N.34). After going down 4-2 on the first sleeve, the title defender had to save three balls of set with his loo and 5-4 for Michelsen, a recent quarterfinalist of the US Open, to end up winning the first partial in the tie-break after a…
Maltreated by the American Alex Michelsen, the 3rd world ended up winning in three sets in the first round of the Tokyo tournament.
Carlos Alcaraz premiered this Thursday at the Tokyo Open with a successful victory against the American Alex Michelsen for 7-6, 4-6 and 6-1. Murciano tennis player had to row more than the count for more than two and a half hours in this first match in Japanese lands to advance to the eighth ... Continue reading "Alcaraz premieres in Tokyo with a victory suffered against Michelsen"
The Spaniard beats the American (7-6, 4-6 and 6-1) in a strange match, with moments of great tennis and others of disconnection, and advances to eighth before Arnaldi Read
Tennis-Alcaraz overcomes teething trouble on tweaked serve to beat Michelsen in Tokyo
Oct 1 (Reuters) - Carlos Alcaraz shrugged off minor wobbles on his retooled serve to dismantle unseeded American Alex Michelsen 7-6(1) 4-6 6-1 and keep his Japan Open title defence on track while several leading players made first-round exits in Tokyo...
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