A heroic Munar rings the big bell in Tokyo and clears the path to Alcaraz

The second day of the Tokyo tournament could not have started better for Spanish tennis. Jaume Munar starred in the big surprise of the day by defeating the American Taylor Fritzthird seed, 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-3 in a tough battle that lasted almost three hours in which physicality ended up being decisive.

Equality was the general note during the first setwhich ended up being decided in a tight tiebreak that Fritz decided in his favor after saving six set points.

Munar did not give up and continued fighting while waiting for his rival to falter. And so it was. Little by little, the forces were abandoning an increasingly erratic Fritz who ended up with physical problems and surrendering to the phenomenal performance of the Balearic player, who They will meet in the second round with the Portuguese Jaime Fariarefished from the previous phase.

Good news also for Alcaraz, since Fritz, a finalist last year, was his theoretical rival in the semifinals. The Murcian will debut this morning (9 Spanish time) against the American Alex Michelsen.

After him the time will come Rafa Jódar who, around 11 o’clock, will face the Paraguayan Daniel Vallejo.

Already on court 1, and around 12 in the morning, the new champion of the Chengdu tournament, Alejandro Davidovich, will play against the Italian Matteo Berrettini.

In other matches of the day, Luciano Darderi beat Casper Ruud (6) 7-6(3), 6-3Ugo Humbert beat Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 6-2, Jaime Faria beat Arthur Fery 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 and Kyrian Jacquet beat Holger Rune 6-3, 6-1.