Alcaraz reaches quarters; Sinner survives to sink qualifier, Swiatek starts Beijing bid

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Zizou Bergs on Saturday and then paid tribute to his physiotherapist following an ankle injury scare.

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The top-ranked Alcaraz landed awkwardly on his left ankle during his opening match on Thursday and was unsure how he would feel against Bergs.

He held up well, saying he "could play normally," and set up a last-eight meeting with Brandon Nakashima of the United States.

"It was tough and it was a really important day and a half I had to recover as good as I could," Alcaraz said when asked about his ankle.

"I have said it before and I will say it again, I have the best physio in the world, who I trust 100%.

Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner survived a scare to sink French qualifier Terence Atmane at the China Open on Saturday as Iga Swiatek launched her title bid and home player Zheng Qinwen returned from injury.

The world number two Italian beat Atmane 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 and will face 57th-ranked Fabian Marozsan of Hungary in the quarterfinals in Beijing.