Carlos Alcaraz added an eighth ATP Tour title to his 2025 collection on Tuesday, defeating Taylor Fritz to win the Japan Open.
Fritz – who was hampered by a leg injury – was unable to emulate his recent Laver Cup victory over Alcaraz, losing the contest in Tokyo 6-4, 6-4.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, was his usual superb self, showcasing an array of spellbinding shots as he sought to take advantage of Fritz’s limited physical capabilities.
Following the tournament, Alcaraz had been expected to participate in the Shanghai Masters.
However, he has since made a wise decision that could protect his long-term future in the sport.
Carlos Alcaraz has made the correct decision by withdrawing from the Shanghai Masters
Following victory in Japan, Carlos Alcaraz announced his decision to withdraw from the Shanghai Masters.
This is a smart decision, one that protects both his immediate and long-term future in the sport.
During his first-round match in Japan, the Spaniard suffered a worrying ankle injury before recovering to claim victory.
The 22-year-old managed to see out the entire week in Japan, which is a testament to his will and determination. However, any lingering concerns regarding his ankle should be treated with utmost caution.
Speaking to the ATP Tour after Tuesday’s final, Alcaraz commented on the injury: “It was tough and it was a really important day and a half I had to recover as good as I could.
“I have said it before and I will say it again, I have the best physio in the world, who I trust 100 per cent.
“The work he has done for the ankle has been great. I could play normally, which is great. Sometimes I was worried about some movements, when I could feel the ankle, but in general I played some great tennis, a great match.”
Alcaraz correctly trusted the physical state of his ankle during the final. However, as the Spaniard states, he is still worried about certain movements causing pain.
Moreover, the Spaniard has witnessed a catalogue of ATP stars fall foul of injury this week, including Lorenzo Musetti, Daniil Medvedev and Jakub Mensik.
These three players have competed in fewer matches than Alcaraz during 2025. In fact, the Spaniard has played 14 tournaments this season [including the Laver Cup], and has contested more matches than anyone in the ATP top 10.
Although his play may give a different impression, Alcaraz is not superhuman, and must exercise necessary caution in order to protect his physical health going forward.
On his Instagram story, Alcaraz explained why he has decided to withdraw from Shanghai.
He said: “I’m very disappointed to announce that I won’t be able to play the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year! Unfortunately, I’ve been struggling with some physical issues, and after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover.
“I was really looking forward to playing in front of the amazing fans in Shanghai again. I hope to be back soon and see my Chinese fans next year!”
How many ATP points will Carlos Alcaraz lose?
At the 2024 Shanghai Masters, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Shang Juncheng, Wu Yibing and Gael Monfils to reach the quarter-final stage.
He then lost to Czech star Tomas Machac, 7-6, 7-5.
As a result, he will lose 200 ATP points following the conclusion of the 2025 tournament.
The tournament, which is still set to feature the likes of Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev, is scheduled to take place from October 1 to 12.
