Carlos Alcaraz won his Japan Open debut despite an ankle injury, advancing to the next round.

Carlos Alcaraz overcame a left ankle injury during his Japan Open debut, defeating Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-2 in a match marked by a rain delay and medical attention. The world No. 1, who twisted his ankle at 2-2 in the first set, received a medical timeout and heavy taping before returning to win, citing relief at being able to continue and a commitment to playing through pain. Despite initial fear and advice to withdraw, Alcaraz chose to finish the match, emphasizing his focus on recovery and the fans. He advances to the next round, where he will face either Alejandro Tabilo or Zizou Bergs, with a medical scan planned to assess the injury’s severity.