Carlos Alcaraz made a winning return to the Vienna Open, overcoming Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-6(5) in a high-quality first-round encounter that tested the Spaniard’s composure and resilience.
The match lived up to expectations as two of the ATP Tour’s most powerful ball-strikers engaged in a fiercely contested battle. Alcaraz looked in complete control for much of the contest but was forced to dig deep after Khachanov mounted a late challenge in the second set.
Serving for the match, Alcaraz missed three opportunities to close out the contest before Khachanov broke back and pushed the set into a tense tie-break. However, the Spanish star regained his focus at the crucial moment, producing a composed performance in the breaker to seal victory after two hours and four minutes on court.
Alcaraz was particularly effective behind his first serve, winning 80 percent of those points, while maintaining his perfect record against Khachanov. The victory improved his head-to-head advantage over the Russian to 7-0.
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz expressed his delight at returning to Vienna, praising the atmosphere and support from the crowd. It was his first appearance at the tournament since 2021, and he appeared comfortable despite the stern test posed by Khachanov.
The win also extended Alcaraz’s remarkable run in ATP 500 events and kept alive his pursuit of a fourth tour-level title of the season. He will next face either Jurij Rodionov or Nikoloz Basilashvili in the second round as he continues his bid for the Vienna crown.
Also, Tommy Paul secured an impressive straight-sets win over Andrey Rublev, while Adrian Mannarino staged a stunning comeback after losing the opening set 6-0 to defeat Ignacio Buse.
