Alcaraz rallies past Ruud to book Fritz final in Japan Open

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ATP TOUR JAPAN OPEN SEMI-FINAL MATCHES RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT AND SHOTLIST SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 29, 2025) (ATP/IMG MEDIA – see restrictions before use) CARLOS ALCARAZ (MAROON OUTFIT) BEAT CASPER RUUD 3-6 6-3 6-4 1. CASPER RUUD ARRIVING ON COURT 2. CARLOS ALCARAZ ARRIVING ON COURT FIRST SET 3. ALCARAZ WINS POINT WITH LOB 4. ALCARAZ REACTS 5. FANS APPLAUD 6. RUUD WINS POINT WITH LOB 7. RUUD REACTS 8. ALCARAZ HITS BACKHAND LONG, RUUD TAKES FIRST SET 9. RUUD WALKS ACROSS COURT SECOND SET 10.  ALCARAZ HITS FOREHAND WINNER 11. ALCARAZ REACTS 12. FANS APPLAUD 13. ALCARAZ HITS ACE TO TAKE SECOND SET 14. ALCARAZ CELEBRATES THIRD SET 15. ALCARAZ HITS FOREHAND WINNER 16. ALCARAZ CELEBRATES 17. FANS APPLAUD 18. ALCARAZ CELEBRATES 19. RUUD NETS BACKHAND, ALCARAZ BREAKS 20. ALCARAZ REACTS 21. ALCARAZ HITS FOREHAND WINNER TO WIN MATCH 22. ALCARAZ CELEBRATES/PLAYERS MEET AT THE NET 23. ALCARAZ CELEBRATES 24. ALCARAZ'S BOX 25. ALCARAZ CELEBRATES/WAVES TO FANS TAYLOR FRITZ (WHITE AND BLACK TSHIRT) BEAT JENSON BROOKSBY (WHITE TSHIRT) 6-3 6-3 FIRST SET 26. JENSON BROOKSBY HITS FOREHAND WINNER 27. BROOKSBY REACTS 28. BROOKSBY HITS FOREHAND WINNER 29. BROOKSBY REACTS 30. BROOKSBY PREPARES TO SERVE 31. BROOKSBY HITS BACKHAND LONG, TAYLOR FRITZ TAKES FIRST SET 32. FRITZ CELEBRATES 33. FRITX'S BOX CELEBRATE SECOND SET 34. FRITZ HITS BACKHAND WINNER 35. FRITZ REACTS 36. BROOKSBY HITS BACKHAND LONG, FRITZ BREAKS FOR 3-1 LEAD 37. FRITZ WALKING ON COURT 38. FRITZ HITS ACE TO WIN MATCH 39. FRITZ CELEBRATES/PLAYERS MEET AT NET 40. PLAYERS SHAKE HANDS WITH UMPIRE 41. FRITZ CELEBRATESE STORY: World number one Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a slow start to beat Casper Ruud 3-6 6-3 6-4 on Monday (September 29) and reach the Japan Open final, where he will meet second seed Taylor Fritz with the chance to claim his eighth title of the year. Alcaraz will also be seeking revenge in Tuesday's (September 30) clash in Tokyo after a shock defeat by Fritz in the Laver Cup in San Francisco this month, his first loss to the American in four career meetings. The six-times Grand Slam champion wasted four chances to break Ruud early and let out screams of frustration when his Norwegian opponent closed in on the first set with sublime shot-making from the back of the court and at the net. Having dropped the first set, Alcaraz came out all guns blazing in the next and levelled the scores with a huge ace, before turning on the style to break for a 3-2 lead in the decider and securing the win. American Fritz earlier saw off compatriot Jenson Brooksby 6-3 6-3 with flawless serving in tough moments to reach his third final of the season after claiming grasscourt titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne. (Production: Aadi Nair)

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