World number one Carlos Alcaraz powered into the semi-finals of the Japan Open with an emphatic 6-2 6-4 victory over American Brandon Nakashima on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who had brushed aside Sebastian Baez in the opening round despite an injury scare, was in scintillating form as he struck 39 winners in a match that lasted just one hour and 20 minutes. The win marked his 65th of the season and continued a strong run of form following his sixth Grand Slam title at the US Open earlier this month.
“These kind of matches help to keep my confidence really, really high. I played some great tennis,” Alcaraz said. “It’s great to go through, to play another semi-final. It’s special, because it’s the first time I’m playing in Japan, here in Tokyo. To reach the semis in my first appearance is something great.”
Alcaraz will face Norwegian fourth seed Casper Ruud in the semi-finals after Ruud dispatched Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic with a clinical 6-3 6-2 win earlier in the day.
The biggest surprise came when third seed Holger Rune was knocked out by American Jenson Brooksby, who secured a commanding 6-3 6-3 win over the Dane. Brooksby, ranked 86th in the world, credited his strong rhythm and strategy for the upset.
“Once I get on a roll from a couple of matches, I just think I’m really able to get into my zone. I thought I had a pretty good plan on him coming out here,” Brooksby said. “I had never played him before, but maybe that helped, someone who hasn’t faced my unique skills.”
Brooksby will meet second seed Taylor Fritz in the other semi-final. Fritz overcame fellow American Sebastian Korda 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 in a hard-fought contest. Wimbledon semi-finalist Fritz is set to rise to fourth in the ATP rankings on Monday, overtaking Novak Djokovic.
