Denis Shapovalov’s run at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships has ended after an injury forced him to retire from his quarter-final match against top seed Carlos Alcaraz. The Canadian stopped play on Sunday in Tokyo while trailing in the second set.
What caused Shapovalov's retirement?
An apparent hip injury forced Shapovalov to retire from the match. According to the ATP Tour, the injury occurred at the beginning of the second set when Shapovalov stretched for a forehand. After receiving an off-court medical timeout, he returned to the court but was unable to continue playing, ending the match after 82 minutes.
How did the match unfold before the injury?
The first set was a tightly contested affair that saw Shapovalov earn a chance to win the set. The Canadian, ranked No. 46, held a set point on Alcaraz's serve at 5-4 but was unable to convert, as Alcaraz saved it with a drop shot, the ATP Tour reported. The set proceeded to a tiebreak, which Alcaraz won 7-4 to take the lead.
What comes next at the tournament?
With the win, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz advances to the semi-finals. The world No. 3 will face Spanish qualifier Jaume Munar for a place in the final. Following the match, Alcaraz signed a camera lens with a message for his opponent, “Be back soon Denis,” as reported by Tennis Majors.
The result extends Alcaraz's winning streak at the ATP 500 event to eight matches, dating back to his title run in 2025. The semi-final against Munar is next on the schedule for the top seed.
Sources
- ATP Tour: Carlos Alcaraz advances to Tokyo SF after Denis Shapovalov retires | ATP Tour | Tennis. ATP Staff, 2026-10-04.
- Tennis Majors: Alcaraz into Tokyo semifinals after injured Shapovalov retires. , 2026-10-04.
Reported from public sources.