Carlos Alcaraz faced a challenging quarterfinal match against Denis Shapovalov at the ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo, which ended abruptly due to Shapovalov's injury. Alcaraz won the first set 7-6 (3) but had to save a set point, marking the third time this week he has had to rally in matches.

Shapovalov, who had been leading in the match, announced his retirement after the first game of the second set due to a painful injury. This unexpected turn allowed Alcaraz to advance to the semifinals, where he will face Jaume Munar, who defeated Kyrian Jacquet.

In his post-match comments, Alcaraz acknowledged the difficulties he faced during the match, particularly with his serve. He noted, "It was a bit frustrating not being able to find a good serve. I had difficulties in almost every service game, but I managed to break back each time I was broken." He expressed disappointment about advancing due to Shapovalov's retirement, stating, "I didn't want to progress this way, but sports can be tough and we have to accept it." Alcaraz hopes Shapovalov's injury is not serious and that he will be able to compete in Shanghai.

Despite the ups and downs in his performance, Alcaraz feels ready to tackle the challenges ahead, aiming to defend his title in Tokyo before moving on to the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai.