Carlos Alcaraz overcame a first-set collapse and held off compatriot Jaume Munar to reach the final of the Japan Open.

The Spaniard will have the chance to defend his title in Tokyo, but he had to do things the hard way against Munar to earn his 5-7 6-3 6-1 victory in just over two and a half hours.

After a fairly even start between the pair, Alcaraz got the first break in the seventh game and took a 5-3 lead.

However, his recent struggles on serve continued to cause problems, and he dropped 16 consecutive points at the end of the first set as Munar came from behind to take the lead.

The pair traded breaks at the start of the second set, with Alcaraz then fending off a break point on his way to a 3-1 lead, which proved vital to him forcing a decider.

Alcaraz then reeled off the first five games of the third, fending off one more break point during that run, and though Munar denied him a bagel, he comfortably sailed over the line.

Can't stop, won't stop @carlosalcaraz continues his incredible run at ATP 500 level. @japanopentennis | #KinoshitaJOTennis https://t.co/Ix1P0KqL1H

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 5, 2026

"I don't know what happened in the first set," Alcaraz said. "I started the match well.

"I was up a break and serving for the set. It seems that I'm struggling in every first set… But I've come back every time, and I'm really happy about it."

Alcaraz will face Jiri Lehecka in Tuesday's showpiece, after the Czech overcame Valentin Vacherot 6-4 6-2 in the other semi-final.

Alcaraz steadies the ship as first-set struggles continue

While this was the first time Alcaraz dropped the first set at the Japan Open this year, he was taken to a tie-break in each of the previous three rounds.

He found his rhythm on serve midway through the second set, just in time to stop Munar from getting a second straight break, and it means that he was able to extend his winning run in Tokyo to nine games, having won the tournament in his debut last year.

Alcaraz has now reached the final in 48.5% (16/33) of ATP events entered below Masters-1000 level – since the inaugural ATP Tour season in 1990, only Roger Federer (51.2%) has reached a higher rate of finals.

In ATP 500 events, Alcaraz has won each of his last 20 matches, a run he will be determined to extend once again in the final.

And he is one of five players (minimum of five matches) to hold a winning record at ATP level after losing the first set in 2026 (62.5%, 5-3), along with Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul.