Alcaraz never tires of winning: record number of victories and ninth consecutive final

What once felt exceptional is now just another day at the office for Carlos Alcaraz. The Spanish phenom, seemingly touched by magic and blessed with a champion’s aura, has made a habit of living up to the iconic mantra coined by Luis Aragonés: “Win, win, and win again.” Currently enjoying the most dominant stretch of his still-young but already prolific career, the world No. 1 continues to smash records, break barriers, and rack up jaw-dropping numbers.

On Monday, Alcaraz staged a comeback win over Casper Ruud - 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 2 hours and 8 minutes - to reach the final of the ATP 500 Japan Open in Tokyo. It marks his ninth consecutive final, a streak matched only by the legendary Big Three - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - since 1990. The victory also gave Alcaraz his 66th win of the season, surpassing his previous best from 2023. On Tuesday, he’ll battle Taylor Fritz for his eighth title of the year, after the American dispatched Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-3 in 91 minutes.

A season of numbers that tell a story of greatness

Alcaraz’s current form is best understood through the lens of his staggering stats. Since falling in the second round of the Miami Masters to David Goffin back in March, he’s reached the final of every ATP tournament he’s entered. That includes titles in Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen’s, Cincinnati, and the U.S. Open, plus runner-up finishes in Barcelona and Wimbledon.

His record since Miami? A surreal 51-3. His nine straight finals place him in elite company. Federer and Djokovic each reached 17 consecutive finals, while Nadal hit nine in 2013. Alcaraz also becomes just the fifth man this century to reach 10 finals in a single season, joining the Big Four: Djokovic and Nadal (five times), Federer (seven), and Andy Murray (once).

Winning on autopilot - even without his best tennis

Alcaraz is winning so consistently that it sometimes feels like he’s doing it on autopilot. That was the case Monday against Ruud, who gave the Spaniard a genuine scare. The 26-year-old Norwegian, ranked No. 12 in the world and trailing 1-5 in their head-to-head, came out sharp while Alcaraz looked flat and unfocused.

The Spaniard struggled early, committing 15 unforced errors in the first set, botching net approaches, and generally lacking rhythm. Whether his ankle - tweaked in his Tokyo opener - was bothering him is unclear, but he clearly tried to shorten points and avoid long rallies, aware of Ruud’s danger in extended exchanges. The Norwegian saved five break points and converted his lone chance to become the first player to take a set off Alcaraz in Tokyo.

Turning the tide with tactical precision

Alcaraz, now 10-1 in semifinals this season, survived a critical break point early in the second set and then elevated his game. He cut down the errors (just five in set two), showed more patience, and began dictating play. From that point on, he lost just one point on serve across his next four service games, cruising through the second set.

A historic milestone and a familiar rival awaits

This marks the 31st career final for the 22-year-old from El Palmar, and he becomes the first Spaniard to reach the Tokyo final since Nadal in 2011. To match his compatriot’s achievement, Alcaraz had to fend off two more break points in the third set before securing a decisive break in game five. He served brilliantly - 11 aces and a 78% win rate on first serves - and celebrated his 66th win of the year with his team, led by Samu López in the absence of Juan Carlos Ferrero.

The win pushes him past the 65-win mark for the first time in his career, eclipsing his 2023 total. With the Shanghai and Paris Masters, ATP Finals, and Davis Cup still ahead, this season is already beyond superlatives.

A chance for revenge against Fritz

To claim his third ATP 500 title of the year - after Rotterdam and Queen’s - Alcaraz will need to avenge his recent loss to Fritz. The 27-year-old American, ranked No. 5, won their Laver Cup clash in San Francisco just a week ago, dominating 6-3, 6-2. Fritz, the 2022 Tokyo champion, played one of the best matches of his career that day, but Alcaraz still leads their head-to-head 3-1.

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