Overview

• Carlos Alcaraz defeated Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-2 in Tokyo after a left-ankle scare that required a medical timeout and strapping during the first set.
• Alcaraz said he would evaluate the ankle after the match, having resumed comfortably to close out his debut at the Japan Open despite a brief rain-delay roof closure.
• Jannik Sinner said he is implementing many small adjustments to become less predictable and accepted a short-term rise in errors as he tests the changes in match play.
• Sinner added physiotherapist Alejandro Resnicoff to his team and opens the China Open as top seed against former finalist Marin Cilic.
• The pair split the four Grand Slam titles this season, Alcaraz reclaimed No. 1 by winning the US Open, and another meeting is possible at October’s Shanghai Masters.