The 42nd Japan Open wheelchair tennis tournament got underway on Tuesday, April 22, 2026, at the Iizuka Sports Resort Tennis Courts and the Chikuho Prefectural Green Space Tennis Courts in Fukuoka Prefecture, with defending men’s singles champion Dai Arai beginning his title defense with a straight-set victory in the first round.
The Japan Open, officially known as the Emperor’s Cup and Empress’s Cup 42nd Iizuka International Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, is an ITF Super Series event and Asia’s premier wheelchair tennis competition. Held annually in Iizuka, the tournament has awarded the Emperor’s Cup and Empress’s Cup to the men’s and women’s singles champions since 2018.
On the opening day of competition, Arai, the top seed in the men’s singles draw, secured a 2-0 victory in his first-round match. While the specific opponent and exact set scores were not detailed in the available verified sources, the result confirms Arai’s successful start to his campaign to retain the title he won in 2025.
The tournament features competition across men’s and women’s singles and doubles, as well as quad singles and doubles events, alongside ITF Futures category matches. Play began at 10:00 a.m. Local time each day, with gates opening at 9:00 a.m., according to the official schedule published by Parasapo Tokyo.
Spectator access remains free throughout the event, with admission tickets distributed on a first-come, first-served basis for Centre Court seating on Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, starting at 8:00 a.m. At the information desk. Each person is limited to one ticket per day, valid only for the date of issue. Organizers noted that spectatorship is not permitted in the event of rain.
Live scoring and match updates were being provided throughout the tournament via the official Japan Open website, with the order of play and results posted daily. The competition is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, April 26, 2026, after six days of play across the two venues in Iizuka.
As one of only two WT1000-level events on the international wheelchair tennis tour recognized by the ITF, the Japan Open attracts the world’s top-ranked players seeking crucial ranking points and preparation ahead of the Grand Slam season. The tournament’s status as Asia’s only ITF-sanctioned Super Series event underscores its significance on the global wheelchair tennis calendar.
The Emperor’s Cup and Empress’s Cup trophies, presented annually to the singles champions, add a distinctive ceremonial element to the competition, reflecting the tournament’s long-standing relationship with the Japanese Imperial Family since the awarding tradition began eight years ago.
With Arai’s opening win setting the tone for the men’s draw, attention now turns to the progression of other top seeds and the potential for upsets in the early rounds. The quad and women’s competitions also commenced on day one, though detailed results from those draws were not included in the immediately available verified sources.
Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action through live scoring updates on the tournament’s official website, with select matches expected to be streamed live as noted by Fukuoka Sports. The organizers continue to emphasize the event’s accessibility, welcoming spectators to experience world-class wheelchair tennis at no cost.
As the tournament advances through its quarterfinal and semifinal stages over the coming days, the path to the finals will become clearer, with the championship matches scheduled for the final day of competition. For now, Dai Arai’s straight-set opening victory represents the first step in his bid to become the first man to win back-to-back Emperor’s Cup titles since the trophy’s introduction in 2018.
The Japan Open 2026 will conclude on Sunday, April 26, with the awarding of the Emperor’s Cup and Empress’s Cup to the singles champions. Fans are encouraged to check the official tournament website for the latest schedule, live scores, and streaming information as the competition progresses toward its climax.
