By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, September 25, 2025
Photo Credit: Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP/Getty
Carlos Alcaraz Hit on the floor and then showed a high ceiling for pain and perseverance.
World no. 1 Alcaraz overcame an foot injury and Sebastian Baez Posting a triumph 6-4, 6-2 in his debut in Tokyo.
The US Open champion has been playing its first ATP tour since regaining world ranking number 1 and its Asian return was almost shortened.
Alcaraz fell into court by tightening the left ankle and left the heel in pain in the fifth match. After a visit from the coach who grabbed the ankle and around a 30-minute rain delay, Alcaraz broke for 5-4, then served in the opening in love.
Moving more freely in the second set, Alcaraz was demolished served in two of the first three games of the Baez service, snatching a 5-1 lead of the second set. Alcaraz served the match at 15.
After that, the six -time champion Grand Slam admitted that he was scared and anxious.
“” When it happened, I didn’t feel well. I couldn’t do anything in the first five minutes, “Alcaraz said.” So I was worried because I had no confidence to continue. But physics came and put some bandages that they were very good and made me feel nothing, which was very good for me.
“I could walk and gained a lot of confidence to be able to continue, as I thought I couldn’t do it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgermkf6vqo
The retrieval of his left ankle stability empowered Alcaraz to go to the drowning of the past Baez power.
Alcaraz said at his time of doubt that he reminded himself to keep the Warrior’s mode.
“I try to have a warrior mentality always, in every game and every aspect,” Alcaraz said. “That’s what I thought. Try to do your best as much as you can to make good tennis for people.
“I couldn’t fail them because I would feel a little guilty. So I went on for them, with a good mentality and giving everything I had.”
The Spaniard’s top Spaniard progressed to a second round meeting against Zizou Bergs, who overthrew the champion of Chengdu stage Alejandro Tabilo 1-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4). Alcaraz improved to a better 63-7 ATP in 2025, including a 48-3 run since April.
“When spraying the ankle, I was worried, to be honest. I didn’t feel well at first,” Alcaraz said. “So I’m happy to have been able to play after that and play good tennis to finish this well.
“We have to see. It won’t be easy the next day and a half for me. I’ll try to recover, do whatever I can to be ready for the next round, and try to play it and do it on a sufficient level to compete. Although I was unlucky.”
Fresh by his heroic to lead the team’s world at the Laver Cup Championship, Taylor Fritz fight Gabriel DIALLO 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3).
Fitz of the second seed fired 13 aces in a two -hour, nine -minute victory. Fritz will face Nuno Borges Next.
