Things seem to have gone from bad to worse for Carlos Alcaraz. Fresh off his US Open triumph and return to the World No. 1 spot, the Spaniard’s Japan Open debut has quickly turned into a worrying affair. In his opener against Sebastian Baez in Tokyo, Alcaraz endured rain delays, tricky conditions, and most concerning of all, a nasty fall at 2-2 in the first set. Though with his trademark grit to push through, and necessary on-court treatment, he was able to complete the match, it may have come at a heavy cost, with his Japan Open campaign now hanging in the balance.
Even 24 hours after securing his spot in the round of 16, Alcaraz continues to feel pain in the affected area. Working closely with his physiotherapist, Juanjo Moreno, the Spaniard has opted to rest on Friday, ensuring he doesn’t put any strain on his injured ankle ahead of his next clash. This surprising report comes from Marca.
He is set to face Zizou Bergs in the round of 16, with the match scheduled for the final session on Saturday night in Tokyo—around 11:00 a.m. in Spain—alongside seven other contests. Alcaraz is acutely aware of the stakes at this crucial stage of the season, with his World No. 1 ranking, the ATP Finals in Turin, and the Davis Cup all hanging in the balance.
(This is a developing story…)