Alcaraz's light schedule could give him edge in title run-in

Carlos Alcaraz opened his Japan Open defence with a three-set win over Alex Michelsen, continuing his return to full fitness after a four and a half month absence from the ATP Tour earlier in 2026.

The Spaniard's comeback has gathered pace since he came back, with a run to the US Open quarter-finals on his first tournament back followed by a Laver Cup title alongside his Team Europe teammates.

The Japan Open draw lost several big names in the first round, with Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, Brandon Nakashima and Rafael Jodar among those eliminated early, a pattern often seen at the start of the Asian swing given the travel demands and accumulated fatigue of the season.

Sky Sports Tennis pundit Annabel Croft suggested that pattern could work in Alcaraz's favour, given he has played considerably less tennis than his rivals this year.

"Normally by this time of the season, there's a lot of players trying to get their extra points up on the rankings ahead of next year also heading toward end of season championships as well," Croft said during Alcaraz's match against Michelsen, as Tennis365 reports.

"But a lot of players are often exhausted, they've expended so much physical energy as well as the mental side of things. But Alcaraz is going to be very, very fresh," she added.

Alcaraz is set to play a full schedule through to the end of the year as he looks to climb back into the top two of the ATP rankings, according to Tennis365.

After Japan, he is expected to head to the Shanghai Masters, an event he skipped last year, meaning there are no ranking points to defend there as he looks to add to his tally.

The Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia follows, before Alcaraz moves on to the European indoor hardcourt swing.

He is expected to compete at the Paris Masters, though it remains unclear whether he will also feature at either of the ATP 500 events in Vienna or Basel beforehand.

The world No 3 is then likely to close out his year with appearances at the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals, giving him a packed run of tournaments before the season concludes.