Carlos Alcaraz qualified for the semifinals of the Japan Open on Sunday after an ailing Denis Shapovalov retired to hand the world No 3 a 7-6 (7/3), 2-1 victory.
His Canadian opponent was forced to withdraw after suffering an injury to his upper right thigh in the first game of the second set.
Defending champion Alcaraz will play fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar for a place in the final after the world number 64 ended the impressive run of 86th-ranked Kyrian Jacquet of France.
Still perfect in Tokyo 💯@carlosalcaraz makes it eight wins from eight in Tokyo, advancing to the semi-finals after Denis Shapovalov retires at 7-6(3), 2-1.@japanopentennis | #KinoshitaJOTennis pic.twitter.com/5TC1TXNMHS
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 4, 2026
The match was hard-fought until Shapovalov's retirement, with Alcaraz troubled by the variety of his game as the world number 46 mixed deep shots with drop shots, and power with spin.
Alcaraz, who saved four set points against Matteo Arnaldi on Saturday, salvaged another here at 5-4 down and went on to seal the tie-break with a passing shot before Shapovalov's injury.
The Australian Open champion is playing only his third event since returning from a months-long wrist injury, having reached the quarterfinals of the US Open last month.
Later on Sunday, Valentin Vacherot upset France's Arthur Fils 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to set up a semifinal against either Jiri Lehecka or Adolfo Vallejo.
Breaking new ground 👊@val_vacherot reaches his first ATP 500 semi-final, defeating Fils 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in Tokyo.@japanopentennis | #KinoshitaJOTennis pic.twitter.com/w9G12iKcQ6
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 4, 2026
Fils seemed to be making short work of the big-serving world number 18 when he earned two set points at 5-3.
But he then caved in, losing the next four games to hand Vacherot the opener on a superb down-the-line return.
Fils forced a deciding set after an intense battle, pumping his fist and rallying the crowd, but eventually succumbed in a tight two-hour, 20-minute match.