Carlos Alcaraz is through to the quarter-finals of the Japan Open, but he had to earn every bit of it against Matteo Arnaldi. After dropping to 6-2 down in the first-set tiebreak, Alcaraz dug deep, saved four set points, and eventually clinched the set 7-6(6) before running away with the second set 6-1.
Speaking right after the match on court, Alcaraz explained how he managed to turn things around. He admitted that being down so heavily in the tiebreak forced him to rethink his approach for the second set, but he managed to find his rhythm and stay focused point by point. He praised Arnaldi’s incredible level, noting that the Italian’s forehand kept him out of his comfort zone for much of the opening set.
Alcaraz then addressed the common observation that opponents seem to raise their game to the absolute maximum when they step onto the court against him. He agreed with this view, saying that every player feels the need to elevate their level just to have a shot at winning against him. For Alcaraz, this isn’t a negative; he views it as a compliment that shows his own high standard of tennis. However, he knows he has to be ready for whatever they throw at him every single time.
Looking ahead to his next match, Alcaraz is set to face Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-finals. He expects a tough battle, describing Shapovalov as a highly aggressive player who can make things happen. Alcaraz has a solid record against the Canadian, winning their two previous meetings in straight sets at Roland Garros in 2023 and Indian Wells in 2025. Still, Alcaraz knows Shapovalov is playing well after a strong run in Chengdu, and he is looking forward to another great fight. The winner of this clash will take on either Jaume Munar or Kyrian Jacquet.
