Carlos Alcaraz chases first Japan Open defence since Pete Sampras in 1994
Carlos Alcaraz starts his Japan Open title defence this week with a piece of history waiting at the end of the draw. No man has won the Tokyo title in consecutive years since Pete Sampras did it in 1994 — and even Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal could not crack the double.
Alcaraz won the event on debut last year, beating American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final. Federer and Djokovic both lifted the trophy in Tokyo during their careers, but neither managed back-to-back crowns.
Nadal came closest to the double
Of the three icons, Nadal got nearest. Like Alcaraz, the 22-time major champion and Olympic gold medallist triumphed on debut in the Japanese capital, beating Gael Monfils 6-1, 7-5 to claim his only Japan Open title in 2010.
"I want to finish the season well and winning titles is a perfect way to finish," Nadal said at the time. "It's difficult to keep winning. I have to enjoy these moments because you never know when they will end."
A year later he reached the final again after seeing off Go Soeda, Milos Raonic, Santiago Giraldo and Mardy Fish, only for Andy Murray to stop him 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
"Andy played unbelievable. He deserves the title."
"I've lost a few sets 6-0 of course. You prefer it doesn't happen, but he played fantastic and in the third set he started to play at a really high level. Accept. That's it," Nadal added.
Nadal never returned to the tournament after 2011 and retired in 2024 following Spain's Davis Cup Finals campaign in Malaga.
Alcaraz's defence begins Thursday afternoon in Tokyo, where the Spaniard is set to face US Open quarter-finalist Alex Michelsen at 4pm local time. The winner meets Roland Garros semi-finalist Matteo Arnaldi, who beat wildcard Rei Sakamoto in his opener.
Whoever reaches the third round will likely face Alejandro Tabilo, who demolished seventh seed Tommy Paul 6-1, 6-2 in his first match. A semi-final would probably pit Alcaraz against third seed Taylor Fritz or sixth seed Casper Ruud. Alcaraz holds a 2-0 record against Arnaldi, while Michelsen has never faced the Italian.