“It was really close. In the first set, and I was able to turn things around, Alcaraz said. But I was playing well. I would say it was about a couple of points, and I think that’s tennis.
From 6-5 down, Alcaraz played a different kind of tennis, one that left the former world number 8 with no answers. When the Spaniard raises his game, no one on tour can match him.
“I just made that pass, and I honestly don’t know how I did it. But it’s only about a few points. I’m very happy that I played great tennis and took advantage of the opportunities he gave me during the match.”
Khachanov earned his opportunity the hard way. Serving at 4-5, he saved three points at 15-40, 30-40 and Alcaraz before breaking the Spaniard at 30-30 in the next game to take a 6-5 lead. Before that, the second set was on serve, although Khachanov had to save two break points at 2-3.
To be honest, the balls get super soft and sometimes it’s really hard to generate electricity from them.
The opening set went into breaks. Khachanov struck first with a score of 3-2, and Alcaraz hit back immediately from 40-0. Khachanov saved a break point in a long game at 3-4 to level. At 4-5, the Russian served for a 40-30 lead and the Spaniard won the next three points to seal the set.
Alcaraz now leads Khachanov 7-0 in the match against them. It is the fifth time he has won seven times, after Yannick Sinner (10), Lorenzo Musetti, Tommy Paul and Alexander Zverev. Their closest previous meeting came this season in the Doha quarterfinals, where Alcaraz won 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3.
The world No. 3 has now won 22 straight matches at the ATP 500 level and is 10-0 in the opening rounds this season. He is playing in Vienna only for the second time, reaching the semi-finals in 2021 at the age of 18.
“The conditions were great. To be honest, the balls get super soft and sometimes it’s really hard to generate power from it. But I would say it’s a good surface and I liked it.”
