Alcaraz beats Fritz in Tokyo, wins 8th title of 2025, and matches Nadal’s finals record

Carlos Alcaraz hailed 2025 as the “best season of my career so far” after sealing the Japan Open title and equalling a long-standing record held by Rafael Nadal.

The 22-year-old Spaniard overcame Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in Tokyo to clinch his eighth title of the year and his 24th career singles crown at the ATP level. The win also marked his ninth consecutive final appearance in 2025, a feat only Nadal had previously achieved at a younger age.

It was a sharp reversal of fortunes for Alcaraz, who had lost to Fritz just nine days earlier in the Laver Cup. But in the Japanese capital, he produced a controlled, high-level performance to gain swift revenge and lift the trophy on his tournament debut.

“This has been my best season so far without a doubt,” Alcaraz said afterwards. “Eight titles, 10 finals. That shows how hard I’ve worked just to be able to experience these moments and accomplish my goals. I didn’t start the year that well, struggling emotionally, so how I came back from that, I’m just really proud of myself, and of all the people around me who have helped me to be in this position.”

The Spaniard has dropped only two finals all year — to Holger Rune in Barcelona and to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon. Since his defeat at SW19, he has surged back with titles in Cincinnati, at the US Open, and now in Tokyo. The Japan Open win moves his seasonal tally to 67 match victories, just six short of Sinner’s benchmark of 73 wins set last year.

In securing his 24th career crown, Alcaraz joins Nadal in an exclusive bracket. Nadal reached the same milestone at 21 years and 321 days, while Alcaraz is only marginally older. “Only Rafa has achieved this number younger than me — that’s something really special,” he said.

His triumph came despite a week disrupted by injury. Alcaraz sprained his ankle early in the tournament and admitted there was a moment he thought he would not finish. “I enjoyed every single second, [apart from] the five minutes I was on the floor after I hurt my ankle,” he admitted. “The way I came back from that makes me really happy.”

He credited his physio, Juanjo Moreno, for keeping him fit to compete. “Special shout-out to Juanjo — I call him the best physio in the world. I’m really grateful,” Alcaraz said.

The injury, however, has forced him to withdraw from the Shanghai Masters. “I’m very disappointed to announce that I won’t be able to play the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year,” Alcaraz told fans on Instagram. “Unfortunately, I’ve been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover. I hope to be back soon and see my Chinese fans next year.”

Even with the setback, Alcaraz remains on course for one of the most successful seasons of his young career. His ability to rebound from emotional struggles earlier in the year to dominate the summer swing speaks to his resilience and determination. With 67 wins, eight titles, and a string of historic records, the Spaniard has reasserted himself as the man most likely to define tennis in the years to come.