The ATP 500 Tokyo, officially the Japan Open Tennis Championships, returns to the Ariake Coliseum from September 30 to October 6, 2026, with a really good field headlined by defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
The Tokyo tournament is one of the major stops of the autumn Asian swing, bringing together established stars, rising contenders and some of Japan’s biggest tennis names. This year’s edition has an especially strong collection of storylines, from Alcaraz’s title defence to Kei Nishikori’s final appearance at his home tournament.
Played on outdoor hard courts, Tokyo traditionally provides a fast-paced test for players who are comfortable dictating rallies and taking the ball early. Overall the Ariake offers medium-pace hard outdoor courts. The main court has a retractable roof, which might be needed this year, as rain and humidity is in the forecast for some of the days during the tournament.
What to Watch: Key Storylines
Carlos Alcaraz will return to Tokyo as the defending champion after winning the tournament on his debut in 2025.
The Spaniard defeated Taylor Fritz 6–4, 6–4 in last year’s final, and both players are back in the field for the 2026 edition.
Alcaraz enters the tournament as the highest-ranked player on the current entry list at No. 3, making him the clear headline name in a field that also contains several established top-30 players.
Nishikori’s Tokyo Farewell
For Japanese tennis fans, however, the main storyline may belong to Kei Nishikori.
The former world No. 4 will make his final Japan Open appearance in 2026, having announced that he plans to retire at the end of the season.
Nishikori is a two-time Tokyo champion, winning the tournament in 2012 and 2014, and has compiled a 24–9 record at the event.
The Race to Turin
With the Nitto ATP Finals scheduled for November 15–22, the Tokyo event arrives at a crucial stage of the season for players chasing qualification.
An ATP 500 title offers 500 ranking points, while a deep run can make a significant difference for players still competing for one of the eight places in Turin.
The exact picture in the Race standings will continue to change as the Asian swing progresses, making Tokyo particularly important for players sitting around the qualification places.
Confirmed 2026 Field
The current entry list features a strong mix of established stars, Grand Slam contenders and younger players.
Fritz, Tiafoe, Jodar and Musetti are the biggest names, and it will also be interesting to see Holger Rune’s return to the tour following injuries.
Notable entries include:
- Carlos Alcaraz — defending champion and current No. 3
- Taylor Fritz — 2025 finalist
- Frances Tiafoe
- Rafael Jodar
- Lorenzo Musetti
- Brandon Nakashima
- Jiri Lehecka
- Casper Ruud
- Tommy Paul
- Luciano Darderi
- Valentin Vacherot
- Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
- Alejandro Tabilo
- Ugo Humbert
- Tomas Martin Etcheverry
- Matteo Arnaldi
- Matteo Berrettini
- Alex Michelsen
- Denis Shapovalov
- Holger Rune
- Kei Nishikori
The field also includes Japanese wildcards Sho Shimabukuro and Rei Sakamoto, while Kyrian Jacquet has a special-exempt place.
The final field can still change before the draw, with qualifying places and late withdrawals to be resolved.
Prize Money at the 2026 Japan Open
The organisers have announced a prize money total of US $2,342,275 for the 2026 ATP Tokyo tournament.
The singles champion gets $437,955, while the winning doubles team will win $143,880.
Singles Prize Money
| Rounds | Points | Prize Money |
| Winner | 500 | $437,955 |
| Finalist | 330 | $235,685 |
| Semi-finalist | 200 | $125,605 |
| Quarter-finalist | 100 | $64,170 |
| Round of 16 | 50 | $34,255 |
| Round of 32 | 0 | $18,270 |
Doubles Prize Money (per team)
| Rounds | Points | Prize Money |
| Winner | 500 | $143,880 |
| Finalist | 330 | $76,730 |
| Semi-finalist | 180 | $38,820 |
| Quarter-finalist | 90 | $19,420 |
| Round of 16 | 0 | $10,050 |
As with any ATP tournament, the field remains subject to late changes.
The current entry information lists João Fonseca and Ben Shelton as withdrawals, while Arthur Fils is set to come through qualifying following an issue with his entry.
The singles draw consists of 32 players, with four places available through qualifying and a special-exempt place also included.
Schedule at a Glance
The 2026 tournament has a slightly unusual schedule, with the singles final taking place on Tuesday rather than the traditional Sunday slot.
- Qualifying: September 28–29
- Main draw: September 30–October 6
- Second round: October 2–3
- Quarterfinals: October 4
- Semifinals: October 5
- Singles final: October 6
The tournament will also feature a 16-team doubles draw alongside the singles competition.
What Makes Tokyo Interesting in 2026?
This year’s Japan Open has something beyond simply a strong entry list.
There is the defending champion returning to protect his title. There is last year’s runner-up looking to go one step further. There are established contenders chasing valuable points late in the season. And there is Nishikori, one of the most important Japanese players in tennis history, making his final appearance at the tournament he has won twice.
We’re looking forward to a great event and a good start to the Asian swing. Looking at what the players says about these courts, conditions are quite fast, the ball bounces low and it should be suitable for aggressive players with flat strokes and big serves.
If you’re visiting the tournament, make sure to check our guide on where to play tennis in Tokyo as a visitor.
