Alcaraz out of Shanghai after winning eighth title of season; Sinner in final

Carlos Alcaraz won his eighth title of a sensational season on Tuesday in Tokyo and then pulled out of the Shanghai Masters because of "physical issues" and took aim at tennis' packed schedule.

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The Spanish world number one hurt his ankle in his opening match at the Japan Open but shrugged off the issue to beat American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final.

But immediately after downing the world number five, the six-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz took aim at the tennis calendar.

"The schedule is really tight. They have to do something with the schedule," the recently crowned US Open champion told reporters in the Japanese capital, echoing the sentiments this week of fellow major champions Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.

Alcaraz subsequently wrote on Instagram that he will not play at the prestigious Shanghai Masters starting this week.

Alcaraz injured his ankle last week in Tokyo as he ran for a shot, crumpling to the ground and sitting on the court for about five minutes.

He returned to play with heavy strapping on his ankle and has admitted that the injury had been on his mind throughout the tournament.