Alcaraz wins Vienna opener as Zverev survives thriller

Carlos Alcaraz began his Vienna Open campaign with a straight-sets victory over Karen Khachanov on Tuesday, while Alexander Zverev battled through a dramatic three-set encounter against Martin Landaluce, saving four match points to secure his place in the next round.

World number three Alcaraz defeated former world number eight Khachanov 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in their first-round clash at the ATP 500 tournament in the Austrian capital. The Spanish star delivered a determined performance to overcome the Russian’s powerful hitting and book his place in the round of 16.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion added the Vienna Open to his schedule at short notice. His appearance marked his return to the competition for the first time since 2021.

Alcaraz’s season has been affected by a wrist injury that kept him out of action from mid-April until the end of August. Since returning to the court, the Spaniard has experienced inconsistent results, including an early exit in the third round of the Shanghai Masters at the beginning of October.

Despite the challenges, the 23-year-old showed his fighting spirit against Khachanov. He recovered from a break down in the opening set before taking control and securing a 6-4 advantage.

The second set proved even more competitive, with both players producing impressive shots and extending rallies. Alcaraz eventually prevailed in the tie-break, using a perfectly executed drop shot to seal the victory.

Reflecting on the contest, Alcaraz said he enjoyed the match despite the physical demands and the effort required to overcome his opponent. He also praised the quality of the rallies, describing the encounter as an entertaining contest.

Alcaraz will now prepare for his round-of-16 match against either Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili or Austria’s Jurij Rodionov, who could provide another challenging test on home soil.

Meanwhile, Zverev produced one of the day’s most dramatic performances, defeating Spanish youngster Landaluce 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (13/11) after three hours and five minutes of intense competition.

The German, currently ranked third in the world, was pushed to the limit by the 20-year-old Spaniard. Landaluce demonstrated remarkable composure and resilience, forcing the deciding set into a tie-break and coming close to pulling off a major upset.

Zverev secured the opening set after breaking Landaluce’s serve in the 12th game. However, the young Spaniard responded strongly in the second set, taking an early lead before closing it out to level the match.

The deciding set remained closely contested, with Zverev leading 6-5 before earning two match points on Landaluce’s serve. The Spaniard held his nerve, saving both opportunities and forcing a tie-break.

The final tie-break delivered further drama as Landaluce earned four match points. Zverev fought back each time, refusing to surrender and gradually regaining control of the contest.

He eventually secured victory on his fifth match point when Landaluce sent a forehand wide, ending the exhausting encounter.

After the match, Zverev acknowledged the difficulty of the challenge and praised his opponent’s outstanding performance.

The victory also strengthened Zverev’s hopes of finishing the season as world number one. A win in his next match against either Tallon Griekspoor or Brandon Nakashima, followed by a place in the Vienna quarter-finals, would allow him to overtake the injured Jannik Sinner in the rankings update scheduled for next Monday.