Injury scare and immediate reaction
From the moment the first ball was struck, the atmosphere in the Tokyo arena felt electric. Carlos Alcaraz was cruising through the early games when, at 2-2 in the opening set, his foot caught on the hard court and his left ankle twisted sharply. The crowd gasped as he fell, clutching his ankle and covering his face with both hands – a sight more dramatic than most on‑court celebrations.
Medical staff rushed over, wrapped his ankle and the bottom of his foot in a thick bandage, and gave him a brief timeout. Even with the heavy strapping, Alcaraz looked uneasy. He whispered to his trainer, “I’m scared… it doesn’t feel right.” The world No. 1 then turned to his coaching box, where a tense exchange unfolded. Coaches signaled that he might consider retiring the point, but the young Spaniard shook his head and signaled he wanted to go on.
He managed to break Baez’s serve at 5‑4, taking the first set lead. Yet the drama wasn’t over – a sudden rain shower forced play to stop, sending everyone under the arena’s roof for a delayed restart.
From rain delay to decisive win
When the lights came back on, Alcaraz appeared calmer, perhaps reassured by the fact he could walk back to the bench without severe pain. The rain delay gave him a chance to regroup mentally; the coaching box, now more supportive, leaned in with short, encouraging cues rather than any hint of a walk‑off.
On the resumption, he took control. His serve fired like a cannon, and his groundstrokes seemed to ignore the lingering ache. Baez tried to battle back, but Alcaraz’s movement, though slightly restrained, stayed sharp enough to keep the Spaniard ahead. He closed the first set 6‑4, preserving the solitary break he earned before the rain.
The second set was a different story. Alcaraz broke early, then rode a wave of confidence, discarding any doubt that the ankle could derail his performance. He hit a series of forehands down the line, angled backhands, and a few crisp volleys that left Baez scrambling. The scoreboard read 6‑2, and the Spaniard sealed the match with a decisive forehand winner that seemed to shout, “I’m still here.”
Post‑match, Alcaraz was candid about the scare. “I was scared too, I’m not going to lie,” he said, eyes still a little weary. “When I landed on the ankle, I was worried because it didn’t feel good at the beginning. I’m just pleased that I could play well after that and finish strong.” He added that being able to walk back to the bench gave him the confidence to stay on court.
Looking ahead, the champion said he will undergo scans on his left ankle as a precaution, but emphasized a “warrior mindset” will guide his preparation for the next round. His next opponent will be decided after the match between Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo and Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, both of whom have a chance to make life tough for the world number one.
For now, Alcaraz’s victory in Tokyo sends a clear message: even a twisted ankle and a rainy interruption won’t shake his resolve. Fans and pundits will be watching his recovery closely, but the Spaniard’s determination to push through pain is already the headline of his Japan Open story.
