Carlos Alcaraz Wins First Title Since February After Wrist Injury Lay-Off

Former world number one, Carlos Alcaraz ends his eight-month title drought and is a champion again after he won the Japan Open beating Jiri Lehecka in Tokyo on Tuesday. The Spaniard registered a 7-6(4), 6-4 win over the Czech player in only his third tournament after making his comeback to professional tennis after a four and half months lay off due to a wrist injury.

Alcaraz won the Japan Open for the second time in consecutive years. After the win, the Spanish star told Sky Sports, “I am really happy to be able to lift a trophy again. It has been a while and obviously it is extra special after my injury. It was a tough week that I didn't find my best tennis, my best level, but I did find a good solution and I think that’s what matters in the end. I would say today was the best match of the week, or at least more consistent the level I played. So, I am just really, really happy.”

The win in Tokyo is Alcaraz’s first individual title since February this year. His form was patchy throughout the tournament, but he finished strongly and produced an excellent performance. Lehecka, the world number 19, made a good start to the match and led Alcaraz 3-1 in the opening set before the Spanish star responded strongly to make it 3-3 and take the set to a tie-breaker.

During the tie-break, Alcaraz brought out his full repertoire of incredible shot-making that pleased his fans and he quickly reeled off five points in a row from 2-4 to seal the set win. The decisive moment of the match came in the seventh game of the second set when Alcaraz took the break and went 4-3 ahead before he eventually sealed the deal.

Alcaraz began the 2026 season with a seven majors win at the Australian Open and completed his career Grand Slam. He then won a tournament in Doha before eventually the injury on his wrist kept him out of action for nearly five months. Alcaraz will now aim to finish the season on a high following the news that his arch nemesis and world number one player Jannik Sinner will not play for the rest of the 2026 season.