Alcaraz recovers from shaky start to punch Japan Open final ticket

Carlos Alcaraz overcame serving struggles to defeat fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 Monday, reaching the Japan Open final as he seeks his first singles title since returning from a wrist injury.

He will face Czech Jiri Lehecka in Tuesday's final.

Defending champion Alcaraz completed the career Grand Slam by capturing the Australian Open title in February but suffered the injury two months later and only came back at the U.S. Open, where a quarterfinal run hinted at a swift return to form.

The 23-year-old, who moved through the gears during Team Europe's triumphant Laver Cup campaign last month, looked comfortable against qualifier Munar in Tokyo at 5-4 before gifting him the opening set with two shaky service games.

"I don't know what happened in the first set," said top seed Alcaraz, who dropped 16 consecutive points at the end of it.

"I started the match well, got a break and was serving for the set, but I don't know what happened. It seems like I'm struggling every first set.

"But the way that I come back every time, I think I'm just really happy about it. Jaume's a pretty tough player and these conditions suit him pretty well. I just tried to stay there as much as I could.

"I made a couple of breaks that helped a lot to get a bit of confidence, then I started to play more aggressively."

After a sluggish start to the second set, Alcaraz raised his level to force a decider and the seven-times major champion wore world number 49 Munar down with stunning shot-making to book a title clash with Lehecka Tuesday.

Lehecka beat eighth seed Valentin Vacherot 6-4 6-2 to make the final and stay on course for his first trophy of the season.