Carlos Alcaraz will face Jiri Lehecka in the Japan Open final in Tokyo on Tuesday, October 6, as the defending champion targets his first singles title since returning from a wrist injury.
The top seed booked his place in the final with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 comeback win over fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar.
Alcaraz struggled early, dropping the opening set after losing 16 consecutive points at one stage. He responded by increasing his aggression and took control to win the final two sets and reach the Tokyo final for a second straight year.
The 23-year-old began his campaign with a three-set win over American Alex Michelsen, 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1, before beating Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 7-6(6), 6-1. He then advanced to the semi-finals when Denis Shapovalov retired while trailing 7-6(3), 2-1.
Lehecka has also impressed on his run to the final. The Czech beat Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3 in the opening round, then overcame Ugo Humbert 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. He followed that with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 win over Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo before defeating eighth seed Valentin Vacherot 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-finals.
Lehecka lost just four points on serve against Vacherot, underlining the level of his performance. Tuesday’s final will be their fifth meeting, with Alcaraz leading the head-to-head 3-1.
Alcaraz won their two most recent meetings, beating Lehecka at the 2025 US Open and in the 2025 Queen’s Club final. Lehecka’s only victory came in their first meeting at the 2025 Qatar Open.
Lehecka will be seeking his first title of 2026 after reaching the Miami Open final in March, where he lost to Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, is chasing his first singles trophy since returning from injury. He completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open in February, but a wrist injury kept him out for several months. He returned at the US Open, reaching the quarter-finals, before helping Team Europe win the Laver Cup last month.
A victory in Tokyo would give Alcaraz his first singles title since his comeback and help him defend the Japan Open crown he won last year.
Alcaraz is ranked third in the world, with Lehecka 19th. The final is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo.
