Denis Shapovalov of Toronto, Ontario is in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Japan Open. On Saturday, Shapovalov upset Alejandro Tabilo of Chile 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in two hours, 11 minutes and 55 seconds. Shapovalov is ranked 46th in the world, and Tabilo, who is Toronto born, is ranked 31st in the world.
Shapovalov had 11 aces compared to three for Tabilo in the second round match. It was the first time in Shapovalov’s career that he has faced Tabilo.
Next up for Shapovalov, the 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist, is world number three Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. Alacaraz is a seven-time grand slam champion. He won the 2022 and 2025 United States Open, 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon, 2024 and 2025 French Open, and 2026 Australian Open.
Alcaraz has beaten Shapovalov twice in the past. The first time came at the 2023 French Open where Alcaraz won 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in the third round, and the second time came at the 2025 Indian Wells, where Alcaraz won 6-2, 6-4 in the third round.
Shapovalov will face Alcaraz in the second of four quarterfinal matches. The first quarterfinal, to take place at 8pm MT on Saturday night, will be Jaume Munar of Spain against Kyrian Jacquet of France in a battle of unseeded players. After Alcaraz (the number one seed in Tokyo) and Shapovalov play against each other, the eighth seed Valentin Vacherot of Monaco will play Arthur Fils of France, and Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic will play Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay.
