Photo credit: US Open Facebook
Tokyo fans were roaring Taylor Fritz’s late charge.
Then Carlos Alcaraz dropped a double dose of dazzling closure.
In a clash of the top two seeds, Alcaraz dabbed successive deft drop shot winners sealing a 6-4, 6-4 Tokyo triumph over Fritz to capture his eighth title of the season.
World No. 1 Alcaraz avenged his Laver Cup San Francisco loss to Fritz, firing out to a 6-4, 5-1 lead before the American No. 1 made a three-game run.
Serving for the match again at 15-30, Alcaraz scalded a serve winner down the T then closed with surgical soft touch, three clean drop shots in the final game, to collect his 24th career championship.
Contesting his ninth consecutive final, Alcaraz is the sixth man to win eight titles in a season in this century.
A week that began with Alcaraz spraining his left ankle in his opening win over Sebastian Baez concluded with the Spanish superstar lighting it up with shot-making brilliance before borrowing a pair of scissors and cut off the taping protecting his ankle and celebrating with his a group hug for his team.
“It’s been a pleasure to be able to play in Tokyo in front of Japanese fans—I enjoy every single second,” Alcaraz said. “I just enjoy every single second, which is what I’m gonna keep from this tournament.
“Really happy with the level I played. Starting the week not really good with the ankle [injury]. The way I came back and played some great matches, really happy about it. I’m just going to enjoy this moment.”
The second-seeded Fritz took a medical timeout after the opening set to have his left thigh taped up. On the slower San Francisco court, Fritz won 16 of 20 trips to net, but today the swarming Spaniard’s all-court attack was too much for the American.
“Congrats to Carlos on a great tournament,” Fritz said. “He’s the best player in the world for a reason. And he’s also a great guy. So happy for all the success he’s having.”
The 22-year-old Alcaraz raised his record to a personal-best 67-7, including a 13-3 mark vs. Top 10 opponents, joining Manuel Orantes, David Ferrer and his doubles partner, Rafael Nadal, as the fourth Spanish man to rule Tokyo.
After a disappointing Australian Open defeat to Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz has been nearly unstoppable in winning 42 of his last 43 matches.
“It’s been great. This season, so far, my best season so far without a doubt,” Alcaraz said. “Eight titles, 10 finals so that shows how hard I worked to be able to experience this moment and accomplish my goals from the beginning of the year.
“I didn’t start the year that good, struggling mentally and emotionally so looking back and how I came back I’m just really proud about that. Big tournaments ahead but I’m just really, really proud.”