Carlos Alcarras qualifies for the final of the Tokyo tournament, and Jurgen Klopp evaluates the performance of the German national team

Spaniard Carlos Alcarras, ranked third in the world, qualified on Monday for the final of the Tokyo Tennis Tournament (500 points) after coming from behind, defeating his Spanish compatriot Jaume Munar 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in the semi-finals.

Alcarras, who won last year's title and winner of seven Grand Slam titles, will face in the final the winner of Valentin Vachero from Monaco, 14th, and Czech Jiri Lehiczka (19th).

After a shaky start also in his opening match in the tournament against American Alex Mikkelsen (35), Alcarras, during most of the first and second sets against Munar, seemed as if he lacked the required energy.

However, the Spaniard seemed on his way to winning the first set when he had the opportunity to serve to win it at 5-4.

But Munar imposed himself strongly and won three consecutive games without losing any point, to advance in the score, while Alcarras finished the set in a way that did not resemble his usual level, after committing two consecutive double faults on serve.

At the beginning of the second set, the former world number one ended an unprecedented series of losing 16 consecutive points, and succeeded in breaking the serve of his compatriot, ranked 49th in the world, from the first game, before losing his serve directly in the next game, so the score was tied at 1-1.

Alkaras regained the break in the next game, then narrowly maintained his advantage until the end of the set, bringing the match back to square one.

After leaving the court at the end of the second set, the 23-year-old Spaniard returned with a completely different face. He began hitting powerful shots from all over the court, dominating the decisive set and seizing the ticket to qualify for the final.

Alcarras is thus playing in his first final since last April, when he lost to his arch-rival, Italian Jannik Sinner, in the Monte Carlo 1,000-point tournament, before he suffered an injury in his right wrist the following week during the Barcelona tournament, which marked the beginning of his absence from the field for more than four months.

When German national team coach Jurgen Klopp left the field in Thessaloniki shortly before midnight yesterday (Sunday), he was aware that achieving just one win in his first four matches in charge of his country did not amount to the euphoria and excitement that accompanied his appointment, but he pointed to the progress the team had made since their disappointing exit from the World Cup.

German fans were hoping for an immediate impact when the hugely popular former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund coach took over last July following another early World Cup exit.

But with the exception of the 2-0 win over Serbia last week, the results were disappointing, as the team lost at home to Greece before a goalless draw yesterday (Sunday), and a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in the second group in the first level.

Lothar Matthaus, captain of the German team that won the World Cup in 1990, said: “In general, it was clear that many aspects of the performance were not yet harmonious. It is clear that the young players thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Unfortunately, the points we got were not at that level. "We cannot be satisfied with this tally of points."

Germany ranks third with five points, while the Netherlands and Greece lead the group with eight points. However, the Germans looked more aggressive than in recent years, at times playing with Klopp's trademark fast attacking style.

“I feel completely satisfied because I know where we came from,” Klopp said after yesterday’s match, the last of four international matches this month. I would not have believed that we were able to produce a first half like this after only one week. The players gave a high-class performance; “Their movements and positioning were very impressive.”

The German coach, 59 years old, raised eyebrows and received widespread praise when he announced a list of 44 players for the four matches (all European Nations League matches) with two separate squads, each containing 22 players, to play two matches for each squad.

He called up 16 new players in his quest to restore the international reputation of the four-time World Cup-winning team.

Klopp said: “I am very impressed with the team and the way we handled things. Everyone has improved their level over the past two weeks and proven their worth in joining the team. When we defend collectively in this way, the players can play really great football.”