Alcaraz ended a 32-year wait — and made Tokyo his second home

Carlos Alcaraz beat Jiri Lehecka 7-6, 6-4 in the Tokyo final to win the Japan Open, his first tournament title in five months and the 27th of his career. He is the first player in 32 years to win the Japan Open back-to-back — Pete Sampras in 1993 and 1994 was the last. It was his second ATP title of the 2026 season, after Qatar in February, and it keeps him in the hunt as the year-end race for world No. 1 tightens behind Alexander Zverev.