Carlos Alcaraz beat Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-6(5) in the first round of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, taking the tie-break after Khachanov saved three match points while serving in the second set, and extended his head-to-head record against the Russian to 7-0.
Vienna, Austria: Carlos Alcaraz had not played in the Austrian capital since 2021 and entered the ATP 500 event at short notice. On Tuesday he did just enough to survive a first-round scare, and the world No. 3 now has a last-16 match to look forward to.
Breaking back in the first set
Khachanov broke first, for a 3-2 lead, and Alcaraz answered by breaking back in the following game. The set stayed close and Alcaraz broke serve late to take it 6-4.
Three match points saved
The second set went with serve almost to the end. Alcaraz led 5-4 and earned three match points on Khachanov’s serve. Khachanov saved all three, then broke for 6-5, and the match was suddenly on a knife-edge. Alcaraz broke back to love to force a tie-break.
The tie-break stayed tight. Khachanov had chances to take it, but Alcaraz won it 7-5, finishing on his fourth match point with a drop shot.
A return to the tour
Alcaraz was playing his first event since his third-round loss to Zizou Bergs at the Shanghai Masters earlier this month. He had returned from a wrist injury at the US Open in September, and the win moves him to 10-0 in opening-round matches this season.
His next opponent will be the winner of the match between Nikoloz Basilashvili and Jurij Rodionov. In the same draw, top seed Alexander Zverev survived four match points against Martin Landaluce in a deciding tie-break.
Result: Carlos Alcaraz bt Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-6(5) (Erste Bank Open, ATP 500, Vienna, first round, Tuesday 27 October 2026). Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 7-0 and advances to the last 16.
