Alcaraz defies ankle doubts on Tokyo courts

Under Tokyo’s autumn glare, Carlos Alcaraz glided across the hard courts, the left ankle’s fresh twinge a faint echo from his opener. He dismantled Zizou Bergs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, each winner a brushstroke of controlled fury that silenced the humid air’s whispers of concern. The crowd’s hum swelled with his every pivot, transforming potential fragility into a display of unyielding command.

Ankle’s pull reshapes court dance

Alcaraz’s strokes carried a deliberate edge, his inside-out forehands carving crosscourt lines to stretch Bergs wide on the slick surface. He mixed one–two patterns with underspin drops, disrupting the Belgian’s baseline steadiness without demanding reckless sprints that might betray the injury. That tactical weave masked deeper currents, where each slide tested resolve, the court’s tempo amplifying the quiet battle between body and will.

“I said before and I’m going to say it again, I have the best physio in the world who I trust 100%, and the work he has done for the ankle, I think, has been great,” Alcaraz said. “I could play, I would say, normally. I was worried about some movements on the court where I could feel the ankle, but in general I think I played a great match.”

Season’s weight meets resilient stride

This victory slots into a campaign already rich with seven titles, triumphs at the French and US Opens anchoring a reign that demands constant reinvention. The physio’s touch, as he credits, has eased the ankle’s grip, allowing net rushes and down-the-line finishes that echo his explosive best. Bergs resisted with flat replies, yet couldn’t pierce that armor, leaving the Spaniard to carry forward momentum laced with guarded optimism.

Quarterfinal edge against Nakashima looms

Brandon Nakashima awaits in the quarters, his hard-court solidity a canvas for Alcaraz’s variety to unfold. Tokyo’s pace favors quick transitions, where the world No. 1’s topspin loops and slice redirects could widen the gap, turning endurance into advantage. As the draw deepens, this advance signals not just survival, but a surge toward autumn’s closing chapters, the ankle now a footnote in his relentless pursuit.