World number one Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the semi-finals of the Japan Open on Sunday, producing a commanding performance to dismantle American Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-4, MySportDab Reports.
The Spaniard, fresh off his sixth Grand Slam triumph at the US Open earlier this month, struck 39 winners in just 80 minutes to secure his 65th victory of the season.
Alcaraz, who overcame an injury scare earlier in the week, looked sharp and aggressive throughout. “These kinds of matches help to keep my confidence really high,” he said. “To reach the semis in my first appearance in Japan is something great.” He now faces Norwegian fourth seed Casper Ruud, who brushed aside Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 6-2.
The upset of the day came in the men’s draw as Danish third seed Holger Rune fell 6-3, 6-3 to world number 86 Jenson Brooksby. The American, playing Rune for the first time, credited his consistency and rhythm.
“Once I get on a roll, I can get into my zone. I thought I had a good plan against him,” Brooksby said. He will meet second seed Taylor Fritz, who battled past fellow American Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 to book his place in the last four.
Meanwhile in Beijing, defending champion Coco Gauff kept her title defense alive at the China Open after edging Leylah Fernandez in a gruelling 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 battle lasting nearly three hours.
Fernandez saved a match point late in the third set, but Gauff eventually prevailed when the Canadian netted under pressure. “It was very physical, but I did what I needed to do to win,” Gauff said. The world number three now awaits either Belinda Bencic or qualifier Priscilla Hon in the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Germany’s Eva Lys delivered the shock of the day by defeating world number 10 and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. The 23-year-old celebrated her first-ever top-10 win.
In the men’s section, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti eased past France’s Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3 but also issued a public apology to fans after a previous outburst over crowd noise.
