Alcaraz Reaches Ninth Consecutive Semifinal with Takedown of Nakashima in Tokyo

Carlos Alcaraz turned on the style on Sunday night in Tokyo, further erasing any worries about his ankle injury (related to a first-round incident, three days ago) and blasting past American Brandon Nakashima at warp speed, 6-2, 6-4 to reach his ninth consecutive ATP semifinal. 

It was a convincing display from the 22-year-old world No.1, who improved to 50-3 since April and set a final four showdown with Norway’s Casper Ruud (d. Vukic 6-4, 6-2).

“It’s great to go through,” Alcaraz said. “It’s special because it’s the first time I’m playing here in Tokyo, so reaching the semifinal for the first time on my first appearance – it’s something great.”

Alcaraz was on the front foot from the get-go against his 24-year-old foe, who was one of four Americans to contest Sunday’s quarterfinal round. Two Americans – Taylor Fritz (d. Sebastian Korda) and Jenson Brooksby (d. Holger Rune) advanced. 

Second-seeded Fritz, the 2022 champion in Tokyo,  improved to 3-1 lifetime against Korda with a 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 win, upping his record to 48-17 on the year. 

Brooksby, ranked 86, improved to 9-1 lifetime in ATP quarterfinals with a 6-3 6-3 win over third-seeded Rune. 

Alcaraz was never threatened on Sunday against the world No.33. He broke in the first game of the match and again in the sixth game to comfortably squeeze through the opener, dropping just two points on serve and winning all 11 of his first-serve points. 

The second set had a different tone, but not by much. 

The pair split the first four games before Alcaraz broke through with a break for 3-2, launching a massive crosscourt forehand winner to secure said break. 

Alcaraz held his serve from there, powering through to his 65th victory of the season against just seven losses. 

He will contest his 11th semifinal of the season tomorrow, as he ramps up his bid for an eighth title of 2025. He has not been defeated before the final at any tournament since the Miami Open in March, winning ten consecutive quarterfinals and claiming the title in six of his last eight tournaments played. 

Credit Nakashima for battling to the end. He saved three match points to hold for 4-5 but could not hold off the Alcaraz freight train in the end.

The Spaniard hit four winners, two of them jaw-dropping, in the final game to take his winner count to 39 against just 18 unforced errors, closing accounts in one hour and 20 minutes. 

He dropped just eight points on serve overall. 

“I’m just feeling great on the court, everytime that I step on the court I feel like I can do everything,” he said. “I am approaching the end of the season with a lot of confidence, and these kinds of matches with this kind of level helps a lot to keep the confidence really high.”