Carlos Alcaraz Sets Up Tokyo Semifinal Showdown with Casper Ruud

Just a week ago, Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud were on the same side of the court, teaming up in doubles at the Laver Cup. Now, the two will face off against each other in Tokyo, with a place in the final at stake. They both have worked their way through a solid field and are ready to bring contrasting styles to what promises to be an exciting semifinal showdown.

Casper Ruud had to dig deep in his opening round against Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki, coming from a set down before finding his groove. Since that early stumble, the Norwegian has been unstoppable, winning every set and showcasing some of his best form since his title run in Madrid earlier this year. His straight-set victories over Matteo Berrettini and Aleksandar Vukic underlined his confidence, heavy topspin forehand, and physical dominance.

On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz has looked sharp despite a scare in his opening match. The Spaniard rolled his ankle against Sebastián Báez in the first set, but showed resilience to win comfortably in straight sets. He has been in exceptional form despite that scare, not dropping a single set. His quarter-final victory over Brandon Nakashima was particularly impressive, as he struck 39 winners, accounting for over 60% of his total points. Alcaraz’s explosive shot-making and relentless aggression have made him the man to beat this week.

Both players bring their forehands as the centerpiece of their games, but with very different executions. Alcaraz thrives on injecting raw pace and power, looking to step inside the baseline to dictate play. Ruud, by contrast, relies on his heavy topspin to push opponents back and create space for his patient, grinding style of rallies. Their clash of tempo, explosive shot-making against relentless topspin, sets up a fascinating tactical battle.

The serve, particularly the second serve, could prove decisive as well. Alcaraz will aim to keep points short to protect his recently sprained ankle, while Ruud will likely seek to extend rallies and turn the contest into a physical war of attrition. Alcaraz should have no problem keeping points short after his first serve, but Ruud can make the second-serve exchanges more interesting if he digs in deep.

For Alcaraz, this is a match he enters as the favorite, and one in which he should ultimately dictate the outcome. The contest is on his racket, as his weapons are not only bigger than Ruud’s but also more consistent. If he produces his best, aggressive tennis, he should like his chances not just to win this match but to go all the way in Tokyo.

An Alcaraz victory would not only put him in his ninth consecutive final but also help him keep his lead in the race for the year-end #1 ranking. For Ruud, the stakes are equally high, as he looks to gather crucial points to secure his place at the ATP Finals in Turin. With both players motivated by more than just the Tokyo title, their semi-final promises to deliver fireworks.