Carlos Alcaraz secured a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over Karen Khachanov to open his campaign at the Vienna tournament, extending his head-to-head record against the Russian player to seven consecutive wins without a loss. The Spaniard’s return to Austrian territory for the first time since 2021—following schedule shifts and a mid-season wrist injury that limited his match play—delivered a two-hour exhibition of high-level shot-making in front of a capacity crowd.
Mastery Over Khachanov Tested in Vienna Opener
Alcaraz entered the Vienna draw following an early exit at the Shanghai Masters, seeking valuable match practice after a wrist injury. Despite owning a flawless record against Khachanov, the opening match proved far from straightforward. Alcaraz dropped a break in the opening set and squandered two match points on his opponent’s serve during the second. Khachanov fought back to force a tiebreak after a love break, pushing Alcaraz into a deficit before the world-class Spaniard regained control to take the tiebreak 7-5.
Throughout the encounter, Alcaraz relied on a mix of precision passing shots, delicate drop shots, and powerful forehands. Yet, moments of vulnerability marked the contest. Alcaraz conceded two mini-breaks in the tiebreak and admitted relief upon converting match point, offering words of encouragement in Spanish to Khachanov at the net.
Alcaraz Advances to Second Round in Vienna
With the opening victory secured, Alcaraz advances to the second round in Vienna to face the winner of the match between Nikoloz Basilashvili and Jurij Rodonov. The tournament marks a crucial pivot for the Murcian player as he looks to build momentum toward the latter stages of the indoor hard-court season.
Rafael Jódar Chases ATP Finals and Top Ten Breakthrough
While Alcaraz managed his return in Austria, compatriot Rafael Jódar made a strong statement at the Swiss Indoors in Basel by defeating Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo 6-4, 6-2. The victory marks Jódar’s third win over Tabilo in just over two months, propelling the Madrid native into the second round in Switzerland.
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