The Japan Open has a strange history of winners, partly due to it running concurrently with the China Open on the ATP Tour’s Asian leg.
The last ten winners of the tournament have been different and the ‘big three’, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal, have only won it once apiece.
You have to travel back to a different generation to find a player who dominated the tournament, with the likes of Pete Sampras and Jim Courier winning multiple times.
One man, however, is the only star to win the trophy four times, more than the ‘big four’ managed between them.
Stefan Edberg won four Japan Open trophies in his career
Stefan Edberg has the best record at the Japan Open, winning the trophy on four occasions between 1987 and 1991.
Edberg, who was World No. 1 for his last two wins, defeated David Pate, Aaron Krickstein, and Ivan Lendl on two occasions in the final.
Sampras’ three wins at the tournament are the only person close to the Swede, although hometown hero Kei Nishikori did win the tournament on two occasions in the modern era.
Djokovic won the tournament once in 2019 on his debut at the tournament, after a decade of playing the China Open, of which he won five.
Federer’s win came in 2006 against Tim Henman, while Nadal’s sole victory was in 2010 against Gael Monfils.
Who will win the 2025 Japan Open?
Carlos Alcaraz has given the Japan Open a huge shot in the arm by playing the 2025 event to kickstart his Asian leg of the ATP Tour.
Alcaraz is the first World No. 1 at the Japan Open for 15 years and he’s the overwhelming favourite to lift the trophy.
Taylor Fritz, who defeated Alcaraz at the Laver Cup, could meet the Spaniard in the final as he looks for his third tournament win of the year.
Other names who should be considered are Casper Ruud and Holger Rune, who are both looking to crack the top eight for the ATP Tour Finals.
