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‘I was way far from my best level’: Carlos Alcaraz returns to title-winning form without the confidence to go with it..yet

Carlos Alcaraz has had a season heavily disrupted by injury, but he has managed to find his mojo again at the right time as he sunk Jiri Lehecka 7-6, 6-4 to defend his title at the ATP 500 Hard Court…

Yardbarker

Published: Tuesday, 6 October 2026 at 7:30 PM

Key Things to Know

Carlos Alcaraz won the Japan Open title despite admitting he was far from his best level throughout the tournament.
Alcaraz defeated Czech opponent Jiri Lehecka 7-6, 6-4 to successfully defend his ATP 500 crown.
The win secured Alcaraz his first tour-level trophy since February in Doha following an injury-plagued season.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Carlos Alcaraz claimed the Japan Open title by defeating Jiri Lehecka 7-6, 6-4 in the final, successfully defending his crown at the ATP 500 event. The victory marked Alcaraz's first tour-level trophy since winning in Doha in February, following a season disrupted by injury.

Despite the victory, Alcaraz admitted he felt far from his best level throughout the tournament but was pleased with his tactical execution and ability to perform in crucial moments during his second event back.

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