'I was scared': Alcaraz's heart-in-mouth moment ends in 'relief'

(Getty/Koji Watanabe)

World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz has avoided a catastrophic debut in Japan after picking himself up from a frightening injury scare.

The 22-year-old, who is competing in Tokyo for the first time, raced out of the blocks with an early 2-0 lead over Argentina's Sebastian Baez.

By entering the code TFS2025, you will receive 15% off the RRP on all non-sale items when you shop online at www.racquetworld.com.au

However, when the scores were level at 2-2, Alcaraz called for an early medical timeout after twisting his ankle, causing the Spaniard to drop to the ground in discomfort.

Despite returning to the court with heavy bandaging, he quickly found his rhythm once more as he recorded a 6-4, 6-2 victory.

"I was scared. I'm not going to lie. I felt my ankle and did not feel great. I'm just happy to be able to play after that," Alcaraz said.

"I will try to be ready for the next match. It was unlucky. In the first five minutes, I thought I wouldn't continue."

The Grind with Roddy Reynolds and Alex Osborne takes a deeper look at the ATP Challenger and ITF Tours – The First Serve Podcasts

Originally fearing the worst, the six-time major winner shared the particular motion that bailed him out of serious injury.

"I was unlucky. I was feeling good. I was running to the drop shot he made, it saved me that I was going forward, and thanks to that, it didn't bend at all," he told reporters.

"I was worried, then I started to feel a bit better. I could walk to the bench, which for me was a relief. When I cooled down, it felt like when I was playing on court; it was a great sign."

Next up for Alcaraz is Belgium's Zizou Bergs in the round of 16.

Whether you're stepping on court for the first time or chasing championship points, Yonex Tennis has the racquet to power your play — with cutting-edge design and pro-level performance in every swing. 

Find yours at yonex.com