Alcaraz sinks Lehecka to retain Japan Open crown

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz defeated unseeded Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4) 6-4 ​in the Japan Open final on ‌Tuesday to retain his title and continue his resurgence after a wrist injury.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz defeated unseeded Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4) 6-4 ​in the Japan Open final on ‌Tuesday to retain his title and continue his resurgence after a wrist injury.

The title is ​Alcaraz's third of the year after ​the Australian Open and the Qatar Open, ⁠before the 23-year-old was sidelined for ​nearly five months and returned at the ​US Open in late August.

The world number three started shakily at Tokyo's Ariake Coliseum, dropping serve in ​the first game, but soon recovered ​and dialled up the intensity to break Lehecka's ‌serve ⁠with a scorching backhand to level at 3-3.

More uncharacteristic errors from Alcaraz gave Lehecka hope in the tiebreak, but the Spaniard ​unleashed a ​sublime ⁠drop-shot en route to clinching the opening set to lay the ​platform for victory.

The seven-times Grand ​Slam ⁠champion took control midway through the second set, breaking to take a 4-3 lead ⁠before ​sealing victory by forcing an ​error on match point.