Carlos Alcaraz stated he had the “finest physio on this planet” after shrugging off issues about an ankle harm to beat Zizou Bergs within the second spherical of the Japan Open.
The world primary had stated he was “scared” after touchdown awkwardly throughout his first-round win over Sebastian Baez on Thursday.
However the 22-year-old Spaniard seemed in little bother as he cruised to a 6-4 6-3 victory over unseeded Belgian Bergs to arrange a quarter-final in opposition to Brandon Nakashima in Tokyo.
“I might play, I’d say, usually,” stated Alcaraz, who gained the US Open final month.
“I used to be anxious about some actions on the courtroom the place I might really feel the ankle, however usually I believe I performed an excellent match.
“I stated earlier than and I’ll say it once more – I’ve the most effective physio on this planet, who I belief 100%, and the work he has carried out for the ankle I believe has been nice.”
Elsewhere, world quantity two Jannik Sinner was taken to 3 units by 23-year-old French qualifier Terence Atmane within the China Open, successful 6-4 5-7 6-0 to succeed in the quarter-finals.
The Italian, who misplaced to Alcaraz within the ultimate of the US Open however has gained the Australian Open and Wimbledon this season, wobbled within the second set after twice main by a break.
Atmane produced one of many shock runs of the season to succeed in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters in August, the place he misplaced to Sinner.
However after powering his technique to a decider in Beijing, he started to battle with cramp, permitting Sinner to breeze via the third set to arrange a last-eight match in opposition to Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan.
