TOKYO (AP) \u2014 Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz beat No. 5 Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the Japan Open final on Tuesday for his eighth singles title this year.<\/p>\n
It also could be Alcaraz\u2019s last match for a few weeks as he later announced he will skip the Shanghai Masters that opens on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover,\u201d Alcaraz wrote in an Instagram post<\/a>.<\/p>\n He injured an ankle in the first round but overcame that and dropped only one set in Tokyo.<\/p>\n Alcaraz\u2019s 24th career singles title was clinched with a deft, sliced drop shot winner and reversed a loss in two sets last week to Fritz at the Laver Cup team event.<\/p>\n The Spaniard also improved his season record to a tour-best 67-7 as he stayed on course for the season-ending No. 1 ranking.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been my best season so far without a doubt,\u201d Alcaraz said. \u201cThat shows how hard I\u2019ve worked just to be able to experience these moments and accomplish my goals.\u201d<\/p>\n The final in Tokyo was a ninth straight for Alcaraz since March when he lost in the round of 64 at the Miami Masters. He is 7-2 in those finals, one of them at Wimbledon to Jannik Sinner.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t start the year that good, struggling emotionally,\u201d Alcaraz acknowledged, \u201cso how I came back from that, I\u2019m just really proud of myself, and of all the people around me who have helped me to be in this position.\u201d<\/p>\n Fritz took a medical timeout after the first set for treatment on his left thigh which was strapped during a changeover in the second set. <\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n