NEWS
Alcaraz overcomes Khachanov in Vienna opener
The Spaniard celebrates a straight-sets victory against Karen Khachanov in his Vienna comeback. An Austrian could await him in the next round.
Carlos Alcaraz's comeback at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna has been successful.
The Spaniard celebrated a straight-sets victory in the first round with a 6:4, 7:6 (5) win against Russian Karen Khachanov (ATP-24th).
Khachanov starts stronger
The Russian indeed had a better start, breaking the Spaniard's serve at 2:2 in the first set.
However, Alcaraz remained unfazed and immediately broke back. Subsequently, the world number three managed another break, with which he could decide the first set in his favour.
Alcaraz forces a tie-break
In the second set, both players held their serves convincingly, but at 5:4, Alcaraz suddenly had three match points. Khachanov, however, did not give up and held his serve. In turn, the Russian himself managed a break.
But Alcaraz did not give away the set; he managed a re-break and thus saved himself into the tie-break. There, both players showed unusual weakness, especially on their own serve. With his overall fourth match point, the Spaniard secured the victory.
In the round of 16, a duel with Austrian tennis ace Jurij Rodionov could now await. Before that, the Austrian still has to prevail against Nikoloz Basilashvili on Wednesday (from 5:30 PM in the LIVE ticker >>>).
