"Everything is different since San Francisco" - Carlos Alcaraz eager for revenge against Taylor Fritz at Japan Open after Laver Cup upset

The 2025 Japan Open will come to a conclusion on Tuesday, when Carlos Alcaraz takes on Taylor Fritz for the title. This match will see both men face each other barely a week after they clashed at the Laver Cup in San Francisco, with Fritz emerging as the victor.

Team Europe, led by Alcaraz, hoped to close the gap on Team World as the latter established a sizable lead over the Europeans. The Spaniard faced Fritz in one of the marquee matchups at the event, with the majority of fans expecting Alcaraz to prevail.

To everyone's surprise, it was the American who walked away with the victory. Fritz played some of his best tennis of the 2025 season to record a 6-3 6-2 victory over his Spanish opponent, who was unable to deal with the firepower coming from the California native's racket.

The two top seeds in Tokyo, Alcaraz and Fritz have been the players to beat. The Spaniard in particular has been impressive, powering past Brandon Nakashima in the quarterfinals before rallying from a set down to overcome former World No.2 Casper Ruud in the semifinals.

In addition to defeating Alcaraz, Fritz toppled World No.3 Alexander Zverev at the Laver Cup, securing victory for Team World. The American has been one of the most consistent players on tour this season, and is now considered a threat at every competition.

Nonetheless, Alcaraz seems ready to take on a new and improved Fritz. The reigning US Open champion praised the top-ranked American for his recent success, but stated he was adequately prepared for the challenge.

"I know he's been playing very well lately," admitted Alcaraz. "Since his wins against Zverev and me at the Laver Cup, and here in this tournament, he feels very good and very comfortable on the court. Everything is different since San Francisco... But it's a new challenge for me and I'm looking forward to it."