Carlos Alcaraz is winning in Tokyo. He is not pretending it feels good.

The Spaniard moved into the Japan Open semi-finals on Sunday when Shapovalov retired at 7-6(3), 2-1 down with an injury, according to the ATP. Minutes later, Alcaraz was telling reporters he is a long way from the level he is chasing.

“Well I think I’m gonna say way far. It’s far from where I want to be,” he said after the match.

“But I’m doing great things on the court. I’m practicing well. I’m trying to do everything when I’m playing matches. Because it’s so different, competition and practices. You gotta find a way.”

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The admission comes with a tournament title still within reach. Alcaraz is the defending champion in Tokyo and is now into the semi-finals for the second year in a row, arriving in the last four as top seed.

Serve a struggle, then Shapovalov pulls out

Serving was the trouble spot in the quarter-final. Alcaraz saved a set point at 4-5 before taking the tiebreak 7-3. An early break for Shapovalov in the second set was erased quickly, and the Canadian retired at 2-1 down after appearing to hurt his hip at the start of the second set.

“It was a little bit frustrating with my serve. I couldn’t find a good way of serving, struggling almost every game on serve but I’m happy the way that I came back after every break,” Alcaraz told reporters afterwards.

“It’s a shame he had to retire. Advancing to a semi-final like this is not how I wanted to do it, but sometimes sports are tough.”

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Munar next, then Lehecka or Vacherot

Alcaraz plays fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar, a qualifier, for a place in the final on Monday.

The other half of the draw sends Czech Jiri Lehecka against Monegasque qualifier Valentin Vacherot, who beat world No. 9 Arthur Fils 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in the quarter-finals.

Alcaraz is treating the rest of the week as a test.

“Hopefully the tournaments and matches I have ahead are gonna be a great test for me. I’m gonna try to use it to get better and feel better on court.”

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