India, Oct. 3 -- Carlos Alcaraz returns to court on Saturday, October 3, with a place in the Japan Open 2026 quarterfinals at stake. The Spanish top seed and defending champion will take on Italy's Matteo Arnaldi on the outdoor hard courts in Tokyo.

The world no.3 had to work for his opening win, coming from a set down against American Alex Michelsen before eventually prevailing 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1. It was not a completely smooth start for the Spaniard, who has had limited preparation in Tokyo because of persistent rain, but he found another level when the match entered the deciding set.

Arnaldi, meanwhile, also needed three sets to make it through his opener. The Italian recovered from losing the first set to Japan's Rei Sakamoto, winning...