Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Shanghai Masters just hours after winning the Japan Open.
The world no.1 claimed his eighth title of 2025, and his first win at the tournament, with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Taylor Fritz in Tokyo.
AFPAlcaraz has now won 18 of his last 19 matches since losing the Wimbledon final in July[/caption]Alcaraz survived a spirited comeback effort from an injured Fritz in the second set, who managed to break the Spaniard when serving for the title.
But the biggest talking point came in the first set, when Alcaraz took issue with match official Fergus Murphy’s use of the shot clock.
What was Alcaraz’s rant about?
Midway through the first set, with the two players on serve, the 22-year-old appeared increasingly frustrated at the umpire after feeling he was being rushed to restart play between points.
Alcaraz argued that Murphy was starting the shot clock too soon, and wasn’t being given enough time to recover.
The six-time major winner then made his feelings known to the official during the changeover in a passionate rant.
While discussing the matter, Alcaraz referenced a particularly long, point had he and Fritz contested in the previous game.
Addressing Murphy, he shouted: “Do you think this is normal? It is normal, or no? I’m asking a question, is it normal or no?
“Finish the point at the net, I’m a little bit tired about the ball [after the point] and I can go to ask for the balls.
“Do you think this is normal or no?”
The umpire explained to Alcaraz that he was not the one controlling the shot clock, as the technology in use was automatic.
Tennis TVAlcaraz took aim at umpire Fergus Murphy during his final clash[/caption] Tennis TVThe Spaniard was unimpressed with the official’s response to his rant[/caption]But his efforts appeared to fall on deaf ears as the Spanish star continued to protest, growing increasingly animated.
Waving his arm in the air, Alcaraz said to Murphy: “You haven’t played tennis in your life, come on!”
Fritz had held from 0-40 down before Alcaraz began his rant, prompting the Spanish star to confront the umpire and demand that the shot clock be started later.
The reigning US Open champion moaned further at his team, but the run-in didn’t put him off his game for too long.
In the next game, Alcaraz broke Fritz, before holding his serve to take the first set 6-4.
He then raced into a 4-1 lead with a double break in the second set, before Fritz offered a late resistance by chalking off one of his breaks when his opponent served for the tounrament.
AFPTaylor Fritz required a medical timeout during his final loss to Alcaraz[/caption]But this was only delaying the inevitable, as Alcaraz took his chance at the second attempt to claim the second set by the same scoreline as the first.
‘A problem all the time’
The Japan Open final wasn’t the first time Alcaraz has voiced his frustrations with the shot clock.
In the last two editions of Queen’s, the Murcia man has had issues with the shot clock, which ensures players take a maximum of 25 seconds between points, starting when the umpire calls the score.
Against Arthur Rinderknech in this year’s quarter-finals, Alcaraz was given a warning for going beyond the allotted time.
He told Tennis Channel at the time: “The conditions were extreme with the heat.
“It was really, really hot out there, and yeah, really long rallies, long games. I felt like I had no time to recover between points. I was in a rush all the time.
Alcaraz did not enjoy the new shot clock rule at Queen’s in 2024Getty“So it was kind of I can’t approach the next point in an appropriate way.
“I mean, that talk with the umpire, it wasn’t because of that I didn’t lose the focus, but it was a problem all the time with all the clock.”
Meanwhile, after defeat to Britain’s Jack Draper in the 2024 edition, Alcaraz was less than impressed when a new rule with the shot clock was being trialled.
Sharing his thoughts, he said “I think for the player it is something bad.
“Today I felt like I was in a rush all the time. I had no time to bounce and do my routine.”
Alcaraz withdraws from Shanghai Masters
Just hours after winning in Japan, Alcaraz revealed he would not be playing in Shanghai.
He wrote on Instagram: “I’m very disappointed to announce that I won’t be able to play the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year!
“Unfortunately, I’ve been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover.
“I was really looking forward to playing in front of the amazing fans in Shanghai again. I hope to be back soon and see my Chinese fans next year.”
The physical issues he could be referring to is a scary incident in an earlier round of the Japan Open when he rolled his ankle.
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