Carlos Alcaraz began his Tokyo title defence with a scrappy three set victory over Alex Michelsen.
The Spaniard was forced to work hard in his return to the Japanese capital but came up good when it mattered most in a 7-6(1) 4-6 6-1 win over Michelsen.
It was Alcaraz’s 28th tour-level win of the year and has responded well to a wrist injury that ruled him out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
After the win Alcaraz admitted it was tough to adapt to the mixed conditions in Japan but is pleased to advance, “I was unable to practise outside [because of the rain] until the warmup this morning and I hadn’t played any points outdoors for a long time, so it was quite different,” Alcaraz told the ATP website.
“It was a different feeling. I think the ball comes bigger. I think the court performs a little bit slower than the indoor courts for sure, so it was kind of freaky to adjust myself to that, to adjust my game. It was a little bit frustrating, not being able to play my game, my style, and play aggressive… It was quite difficult but I’m just really happy to accept and understand how I had to play, and to get the win at the end.
“It was really important to have this feeling for the next round, to know what I have to do for the next matches.”
Alcaraz will now face Matteo Arnaldi for a place in the quarter-finals as the Spaniard looks to end the year strong.
The Australian Open champion is the only seed left in the top half of the draw after a mass number of exits in his section.
After Tommy Paul’s exit there were also defeats for Taylor Fritz and Casper Ruud against Jaume Munar and Luciano Darderi respectively.
There were also first round defeats for Rafael Jodar and Brandon Nakashima in Tokyo as the mass exodus of top seeds continue.
