Overview

• Carlos Alcaraz beat Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the Japan Open semifinals, delivering one of his sharpest performances of the Asian swing.
• He played with visible protection on his left ankle and said he adopted a more aggressive style to limit his own movement while showing little discomfort in rallies.
• The injury came in his opener against Sebastián Báez; he skipped Friday practice for treatment and then returned to defeat Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.
• Alcaraz will face Casper Ruud in the semifinals, with the other matchup featuring Taylor Fritz and Jenson Brooksby.
• His team continues to manage the sprain conservatively given looming commitments that include Shanghai, Paris, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Final 8.