Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz secured his place in the Japan Open final on Monday after a hard-fought victory over fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar. Alcaraz, who is recovering from a wrist injury sustained earlier this year, edged past Munar 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in Tokyo, demonstrating resilience despite early serving difficulties.

The 23-year-old top seed, who clinched the Australian Open title in February to complete his career Grand Slam, suffered a wrist injury shortly after and only returned to competitive play at the US Open, reaching the quarterfinals. His performance at the Japan Open marks another step in his comeback as he seeks his first singles title since returning to the circuit.

Alcaraz started the match strongly but struggled to maintain momentum in the opening set, dropping 16 consecutive points towards the end and ultimately surrendering the set 5-7. Reflecting on the first set, he acknowledged his inconsistent service games and noted a recurring issue with slow starts. Despite this, he remained positive about his ability to recover, crediting Munar's challenging play and favorable conditions.

As the match progressed, Alcaraz raised his level, playing with increased aggression and breaking Munar’s serve multiple times in the second set to level the match. By the third set, Alcaraz’s superior shot-making and stamina wore down the world number 49 qualifier, allowing the seven-times major champion to dominate the final stages and secure a 6-1 victory in the decider.

Alcaraz will face Czech player Jiri Lehecka in Tuesday’s final. Lehecka advanced after defeating eighth seed Valentin Vacherot 6-4, 6-2 and is contending for his first title of the season. The final pits the experienced Alcaraz against the rising Czech star, promising a competitive conclusion to the tournament.