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Trending searches · 2026-10-01

Carlos Alcaraz vs Alex Michelsen: Alcaraz Wins 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 at Japan Open 2026

This post was compiled with AI. We checked it against the original articles and announcements, but please confirm details in the linked sources. Trending on Google Trends (GB, carlos alcaraz) 2,000+ · (AU) 500+ · (CA) 200+ · (US, alex michelsen) 100+; sources collected 2026-10-01 18:10 (KST).

In one line

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz beat American Alex Michelsen 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1 in the first round of the Japan Open in Tokyo on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. The defending champion needed three sets and 2 hours 31 minutes to open his title defense.

Why people are searching

Google Trends listed "carlos alcaraz" at 2,000+ searches in the UK, 500+ in Australia and 200+ in Canada, and "alex michelsen" at 100+ in the US, when we checked at 6:10 p.m. Korea time on Oct. 1. The news items attached to the term included Tennisnerd's "ATP Tokyo 2026 Preview – Players, Prize Money, Schedule for Japan Open", a Tennishead piece on Yahoo, "What Carlos Alcaraz can achieve for the first time in over 30 years at the 2026 Japan Open", and a Sky Sports live page for the Japan Open. The match was still being played at that moment, so the spike appears to line up with the match itself.

The match at a glance

ItemDetail
ScoreAlcaraz 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1
Duration2 hours 31 minutes
RoundFirst round (round of 32)
EventJapan Open, ATP 500
VenueAriake Colosseum, Tokyo
DateThursday, Oct. 1, 2026
SeedingAlcaraz is the No. 1 seed
Head-to-headFirst meeting
Next opponentMatteo Arnaldi (Italy)

How it played out

Alcaraz saved three set points at 4-5 in the first set, then took the tiebreak 7-1. In the second he led 4-2, but Michelsen won four games in a row to level the match at a set each. The decider was one-sided: Alcaraz went 5-0 up and closed it out 6-1.

Both players had 13 break points. Alcaraz converted six of his and Michelsen five.

What comes next

Alcaraz plays Matteo Arnaldi in the second round. The Italian came through on Wednesday, Sept. 30, beating Japanese wildcard Rei Sakamoto 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Alcaraz won the Tokyo title in 2025, beating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final. No man has defended the Japan Open singles title since Pete Sampras won it in 1993 and 1994. The main draw runs through Tuesday, Oct. 6.

What we could not confirm

Sources