Alcaraz beats Lehecka to triumph in Tokyo

Carlos Alcaraz began his Asian swing with a Tokyo title victory which thrust the Spaniard among the sports’s elites after successfully defending the Japan Open trophy on Tuesday.

 Alcaraz backed up his 2025 trophy at the Ariake colosseum, matching the back-to-back wins here of Stefan Edberg (1989-1991) and Pete Samoras (1993-1994).

Alcaraz, who missed almost five months of play due to a wrist injury, picked up this third title of the season after the Australian Open and Doha in February.

The Spaniard was all smiles after his win, telling Britain’s Sky: “I’m really happy to be able to lift a trophy again. It’s been a while and obviously it’s extra special after my injury.”

The winner  called the experience “a tough week (where) I didn’t find my best tennis, my best level, but I did find the good solutions.

“That’s what matters in the end.”

The winner called the final “the best match of the week, or at least more consistent the level that I played, so I’m just really, really happy.”

Alcaraz rallied from 4-2 down in the opening-set tiebreaker, winning five straight points to secure the set.

In the second, one break of his Czech opponent was enough to lift the trophy after 96 minutes.

The world No. 3 said that his enforced injury absence serves as a learning experience.

“A lot of negative thoughts come to your mind. If you’re going to come back healthy, if you’re going to come back the same as I was before. If I will be able to get the ball normal without pain at all.

“But I try to put those thoughts away all the time. My team and I knew that if I come back, I’m going to be healthy 100 percent.”

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz lifts Tokyo Trophy – by ATPTour.com