Carlos Alcaraz's maiden Tokyo title run nearly ended before it began!World no. 2 sprained his left ankle in the opening round against Sebastian Baez at 2-2 in the first set.
The 22-year-old collapsed on the court in pain and made grimaces that worried his team. While they urged the 22-year-old to retire and prevent further damage, Carlos acted like a true champion and refused to give up.
He received a treatment and continued the duel. He claimed a victory in straight sets before the real work started afterward! Physiotherapist Juanjo Moreno worked tirelessly for a day and a half.
Moreno applied intensive therapy to stabilize the ankle and keep world no. 1 in the tournament. The results of their joined effort were remarkable! Carlos recovered and ousted four more rivals to wrap up a perfect week and lift a trophy over Taylor Fritz.
Thus, the Spaniard lifted his eighth ATP title of the season and earned pivotal points in the year-end no. 1 battle with Jannik Sinner. After the final, Alcaraz thanked his physio, calling him the key figure behind his ability to compete through pain.
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They celebrated the title on the court, taking a picture with a trophy and smiling. Moreno later shared an emotional message reflecting on the demanding weeks at the Laver Cup and Tokyo.
The 'best physio in the world' praised Carlos' resilience and dedication in challenging moments. He emphasized that the greatest progress comes from shared effort, trust and the ability to transform pressure into growth.
Those values define Team Carlitos, the strongest group of men's tennis! The bond between Alcaraz and Moreno once again showcased that behind every champion stands a team capable of turning struggle into success.
Carlos decided to skip Shanghai and allow his body to rest. He will chase more tennis glory in Riyadh, Paris, Turin and Bologna by the end of the season, hoping to embrace his second year-end no. 1 honor.
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"We had two intense weeks at the Laver Cup and in Tokyo, full of emotions and difficulties that leave us with another experience overcome, and me in particular, with a whole heart.
We have walked through hardships that tested our ability to adapt, and it's in those moments that true strength is demonstrated - transforming pressure into learning and growth.
Thank you, Carlos, for your kind words the other day and your daily effort with my work; your commitment pushes me to be a better physio-preparer daily.
As well supported by the science of performance, the greatest advances come from talent, shared resilience, cooperation and the ability to adjust the body and mind to overcome the challenges that put us ahead, always#TeamCarlitos," Juanjo Moreno wrote.
