In his Tokyo debut, world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz faced a fierce challenge from 22‑year‑old American Alex Michelsen, ranked 34th. The match swung back and forth, with Alcaraz saving three set points early before slipping into a second‑set tiebreak that Michelsen claimed 7‑6(1). Alcaraz rebounded in the third, taking it 6‑1 after a grueling 2 hours 31 minutes, sealing his spot in the round of 16.
With the win, the Spaniard will meet Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, who edged out Rei Sakamoto 2‑6, 6‑4, 6‑4. Alcaraz, the defending champion, showed resilience against Michelsen’s extreme aggression, proving once again why he’s among the sport’s elite. The day also featured Jaume Munar’s upset of world No.12 Taylor Fritz, adding more excitement to the tournament.