Hobbled Alcaraz Pulls Off Impossible Return To Stun Japan Open Crowds | WATCH

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz had to change his game plan to protect an injured ankle, but that sure didn’t stop him from treating the Japan crowd to some unreal shot-making.

Alcaraz, battling with an ankle

injury, still produced a dominant performance to defeat American Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday and book his place in the Japan Open semi-finals.

The Spaniard first rolled his left ankle during his Tokyo opener and later confessed that the knock had weighed heavily on his mind.

Once again, strapping was visible above his sock, but Alcaraz showed few signs of discomfort as he overpowered Nakashima, the world No. 33, with his trademark aggression.

He never faced a break point, kept control of rallies, and dictated play from start to finish. His power hitting drew gasps from the Tokyo crowd, with several highlight-reel shots bringing them to their feet.

STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING

CARLOS ALCARAZ HITS ONE OF THE SHOTS OF THE YEAR

IF YOU DON’T LIKE THIS, YOU DON’T LIKE TENNIS

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯pic.twitter.com/x1ooAXxGD6

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 28, 2025

“First of all, I’m a huge fan of tennis, and seeing these kinds of shots—whether they come from me or not—I just enjoy,” he said. “Tonight, there were a few I thought, ‘that was a really good one.’”

From Nervy Start to Clinical Win

Alcaraz had been broken three times in his previous match against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, but against Nakashima, he was relentless.

“I had to play more aggressive than normal because I just want to let him run much more than I do,” Alcaraz explained. “You can see sometimes I can’t go as fast as I want. That’s why I was hitting really big shots—I didn’t want to run side to side.”

Alcaraz now faces world No. 12 Casper Ruud in Monday’s semi-final. Ruud reached the last four after defeating Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 6-2.

In the other semi-final, world No. 5 Taylor Fritz will meet fellow American Jenson Brooksby.