[Singles Quarterfinal]
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) [1] def. Brandon Nakashima (USA) – 6-2, 6-4
■The loud support for Nakashima reflected the fans’ desire to keep the match going as long as possible. Alcaraz entered the match with concerns over a left ankle injury sustained in the first round. With that in mind, he devised a game plan before the match: "Play more aggressively and make my opponent run as much as possible."
He followed through on that strategy by attacking the net frequently in an effort to shorten points, combining his usual power with smart court positioning. That aggressive approach paid off, with many of his attacks resulting in clean winners. Nakashima, on the back foot throughout much of the match, still managed to hang in there—perhaps driven in part by the fans who, by then, simply wanted to see more of Alcaraz's extraordinary tennis.
■The first set was over in just 31 minutes. Alcaraz won 100% of points on his first serve. However, the second set became more competitive, as Nakashima dug in and saved several break points. The fans’ hopes were rewarded with a tighter battle. Despite having said he would "avoid crazy shots" due to his ankle, Alcaraz wowed the crowd with a few jaw-dropping plays—most notably one where he sprinted to chase down a sharply angled shot and hit an improbable winner. That set lasted 49 minutes, but Alcaraz never appeared in real danger.
■“I played some unbelievable tennis—I won’t lie about that,” Alcaraz said in his post-match interview, clearly in high spirits. “I felt great, like I could do anything. Every shot felt on point. I’m really happy with how I played.”
■Still, concerns about his injury remain. Alcaraz admitted,
“You can probably tell that I can’t move as fast as I want to sometimes. That’s why I pay close attention to every step I take. I don’t want to keep running side to side, so sometimes I go for big shots.”
In short, Alcaraz is balancing injury management with high-level tennis—a tough challenge. But his aggressive, fan-pleasing style of play may be a direct result of that balancing act.
(Japan Tennis Association)
