Carlos Alcaraz soldiers on after thrilling Michelsen test as Japan Open title defence begins with a bang

Carlos Alcaraz was not at his magical best in the opening round of his Japan Open title defence, but he managed to battle out a 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1 victory against Alex Michelsen, who troubled Alcaraz throughout the match, but the No.1 seed found a way to prevail.

It is Alcaraz’s second ATP tournament since coming back from a wrist injury. The seven-time Grand Slam champion also featured at the Laver Cup, but it is still evident that he is in need of more matches to get his eye back in at the highest level.

While it was not a standard or comfortable straight set win that many expected, Alcaraz found another way to win. He was under pressure for much of the contest with Michelsen playing a very solid game of tennis. Nevertheless, when it mattered, Alcaraz moved up the gears.

Alcaraz survived three set points in a topsy turvey first set before failing to serve it out. He had no problem in seeing out the tiebreak ahead of going into a 4-2 lead. Michelsen won four games on the trot to force a decider, but he was unable to produce his best tennis as Alcaraz breezed over the finishing line.

It was evident from the start that it would not completely go Alcaraz’s way. He was in desperate need for match time to get his sharpness back to 100%, but the recent US Open quarter-finalist was not going to be a walkover.

It was the American who broke first, capitalising off a sloppy double fault to lead 4-2. Alcaraz would not be kept at bay for long and instantly responded. He was very much under the cosh a few games later with Michelsen creating three set points against the serve. All of them were successfully defended as Alcaraz broke the serve straight after.

He had the chance to see it out, but it was made so much more complicated as Michelsen broke for the second time to confirm a tiebreak. Finally, Alcaraz had some breathing space as he charged to a dominant tiebreak, winning it 7-1 and clinching the first set in the process.

Michelsen was not going to make it easy for him. He broke the Alcaraz serve to start the second set before missing another golden opportunity to seize a double-break lead. The Spaniard would make sure that he paid the price. A clinical break was followed by an ominous hold to love as Alcaraz put himself back on top.

He made it four games on the spin to charge into a break lead. Two games away from the win, it seemed that he would sprint over the finishing line. That was not the case. Michelsen was quick to react and got the second set level.

While a brilliant response, Michelsen’s race seemed to have been run when Alcaraz sailed into a 5-0 lead in the third set. He dropped just four points in this period and was utterly dominant. Michelsen prevented the bagel but was hapless to Alcaraz finishing the job on serve. The last time the Japan Open title was successfully defended was back in 1994, as Pete Sampras went back-to-back. Over 30 years later, Alcaraz will hope to repeat those heroics in the Japanese capital.