September 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to go through, to play another semi-final,\u201d said Alcaraz in his post-match interview. \u201cIt\u2019s special because it\u2019s the first time I am playing here in Japan and here in Tokyo, so to reach the semi-finals in my first appearance is something great.\u201d <\/p>\n
Even after some of the sublime shotmaking Alcaraz produced in a classy opening-set performance, the Spaniard arguably saved his best for last inside Ariake Coliseum. Having let slip three match points on return at 5-3 in the second set, he reeled off four consecutive winners in the next game to wrap his win with a flourish. <\/p>\n
\u201cI always say that closing a match is difficult. Even tougher when you had match points, like I did when I was returning,\u201d said Alcaraz. \u201cLosing that game, I thought it was going to be really difficult, but I just tried to maintain my focus and play some great points in the last game. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve played a last game like this, so I\u2019m really happy about it.\u201d <\/p>\n
Watch: Alcaraz’s Four Consecutive Winners To Wrap Tokyo QF Win:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now 50-3 since April, according to the Infosys ATP Win\/Loss Index, Alcaraz will take on Casper Ruud for a spot in the championship match. The fourth-seeded Norwegian earlier raced to a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Aleksandar Vukic. <\/p>\n
\u201cProbably [it\u2019s the best period of my career]. I\u2019m just feeling great on court, every time I step on the court,\u201d said Alcaraz. \u201cI just think I can do everything. I\u2019m approaching the end of the season with a lot of confidence and these kinds of matches, this kind of level, helps a lot to keep the confidence high. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just trying to set up goals before matches, before tournaments, and trying to follow those goals. I think that helps me a lot to play great tennis and maintain the focus during the match.\u201d <\/p>\n
Alcaraz leads Ruud 4-1 in the pair\u2019s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with one of those victories coming in the 2022 US Open final. Yet the Norwegian triumphed in straight sets in the pair\u2019s most recent meeting, at the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals, and he produced a commanding quarter-final win of his own in Tokyo, where he needed just 58 minutes to sink qualifier Vukic. <\/p>\n
In the bottom half of the draw, Taylor Fritz and Jenson Brooksby will contest an all-American semi-final. The second-seeded Fritz edged Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3. The champion in Tokyo in 2022, Fritz moved one spot above Novak Djokovic to fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin by defeating Korda. <\/p>\n
The World No. 86 Brooksby notched a 6-3, 6-3 upset of third seed Holger Rune to seal his semi-final spot. With victory in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash against Rune, the 24-year-old Brooksby improved to 9-1 in ATP Tour quarter-finals. <\/p>\n
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