Alcaraz ankle scare now a distant Tokyo memory

Carlos Alcaraz put aside any ankle injury fears as the world No. 1 powered into the Japan Open quarter-finals on Saturday 6-4, 6-3 over Belgian Zizou Bergs.

The Spaniard had rolled his ankle in a first round win this week at the Ariake Colosseum and did not train on Friday as a precaution.

But the top seed showed full fitness in his second match of the autumn Asian swing as he advanced in 79 minutes to lift his season record to 61-6 with seven titles..

“It was tough and it was a really important day and a half I had to recover as good as I could,” Alcaraz said.

“I have the best physio in the world, who I trust 100 per cent. The work he has done for the ankle has been great. I could play normally, which is great.”

He added: “Sometimes I was worried about some movements, when I could feel the ankle, but in general I played some great tennis, a great match.”

Alcaraz now plays Brandon Nakashima, who booked his spot overMarton Fucsovics 7-5, 6-3.

Danish headliner Holger Rune stopped American Ethan Quinn 6-4, 6-2 to put himself own win away from matching his 2024 semi-final here,

“I really sharpened my focus in the start of the sets,” the winner said. “He’s a good player and has some weapons, but it was about trying to take them away from him and play on my terms and making fast starts made me feel better and made me relax more.”

Rune stands 14th in the race to the eight-man season wrapup in November.

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz celebrates win – by ATPTour.com