By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
Two hours into the match, Karen Khachanov finally had Carlos Alcaraz right where he wanted him.
Two points from forcing a third set, Khachanov attacked behind a deep approach. A siding Alcaraz turned that probing approach to a punchline for an audacious pass.
Sliding into his shot, Alcaraz flicked a forehand winner down the line.
Even when pushed out of position, Alcaraz answered with creative drives posting a 6-4, 7-6(5) win over Khachanov in his Vienna opener before a packed crowd.
“It was amazing, to be honest,” Alcaraz said. “First round, packed stadium, the atmosphere was incredible.
“I had to run, I had to fight, I had to sweat a lot, but I enjoyed it. I would say it was a fun match to watch. So [I’m] just really, really happy about it.”
Returning to Vienna for the first time since his 2021 semifinal run, Alcaraz improved to 7-0 lifetime against former Rolex Paris Masters champion Khachanov—and 10-0 in opening-round matches this season.
Alcaraz rallied from a break down in both sets, failed to convert three match points on Khachanov’s serve up 5-4 in the second set then recovered from 4-5 down in the tie break finishing on his fourth match point by dabbing a forehand drop shot winner.
“I was playing great, it was just that game. Those match points I would say I could play them a little bit better,” Alcaraz said. “I played too fast, I overplayed a couple of match points.
“There was a few mistakes, but I was still happy, still pleased with the level I was playin g. I just tried to be there mentally and give myself another chances. I would say it was a great tie breaker.”
The second-seeded Spaniard more than doubled Khachanov’s winner total—36 to 15—and was perfect in the front court winning all 11 trips to the net to improve to 34-5.
World No. 3 Alcaraz will face either Almaty finalist Nikoloz Basilashvili or Austrian wild card Jurij Rodionov for a quarterfinal spot.
Earlier, American Tommy Paul posted his 250th career victory with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Andrey Rublev.
Lyon semifinalist Paul pumped 36 winners—20 more than Rublev—and will play Italian Luciano Darderi in the Vienna round of 16.
The 23-year-old Alcaraz tuned up for his tournament return visiting the Vienna State Opera.
Today, Alcaraz issued a shotmaking symphony, bamboozling the 6’6” Russian at times with devious drop shots and loopy lobs.
Alcaraz created issues for himself netting a slice and lofting a defensive lob to face double break point. Khachanov drew first break blood at 15 for a 3-2 lead.
When Khachanov went up 40-Love in the following game, he was one point from quick consolidation.
Then Alcaraz began dialing up damaging forehand drives.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion slid a diagonal forehand winner to break back in the sixth game.
Playing a higher, deeper return to push the bearded veteran back behind the baseline, Alcaraz earned set point in the 10th game.
Accelerating through another whiplash crosscourt forehand, Alcaraz battered out another error breaking to take a one-set lead after 53 minutes. Alcaraz hit 14 winners, doubling Khachanov’s winner total for the first set.
Three games into the second set, Alcaraz unleashed shotmaking showtime.
Running with his back to the net, the Spaniard extended the point with the tweener, worked his way to net and engaged in a volley exchange before knocking off a forehand volley to hold for 2-1. Alcaraz and Khachanov shared smiles and a high five after that entertaining point.
Credit Khachanov for showing toughness staring down three match points serving at 4-5. Khachanov caught a break as Alcaraz netted a backhand on the first match point, muffed a forehand drop shot on the second match point before the Russian ripped a big serve to erase the third.
When the dust settled, Khachanov held to level then coaxed Alcaraz into dragging a backhand wide as he broke for 6-5.
Undaunted, Alcaraz slipped a backhand slice to draw the big man forward then spun a forehand pass down the line breaking at love to force the tie break.
Though Khachanov went up 5-4 and had two serves to serve out the breaker, Alcaraz conjured that slick sliding pass for 5-all to spark his fast finish.
On his fourth match point, Alcaraz attacked and sifted one final drop shot to close in two hours, four minutes.
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