Alcaraz returns to winning ways in Vienna, Zverev survives tough match

World number three Carlos Alcaraz beat Russian opponent Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in the first round of the Vienna Open to advance. The seven-time Grand Slam champion from Spain did not drop a set in this match.

Alcaraz was out of action from mid-April to late August due to a wrist injury. Since his return to the tour he has struggled to find consistency, and in early October he was knocked out in the third round of the Shanghai Masters. This is his first appearance in Vienna since 2021.

Speaking after the match, Alcaraz said he enjoyed the contest even though he had to run, fight and sweat a lot. He put in a tough effort to take the first set against his opponent's powerful shots. In the second set he closed out the match in the tie-break with a crucial drop shot. The young player will next face either Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili or Austrian Jurij Rodionov.

Alexander Zverev beat Martin Landaluce 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (13-11), keeping his year-end world number one hopes alive. The German saved four match points in the contest. Zverev thanked his opponent and said Landaluce had played an excellent match.

Zverev has already guaranteed he will finish the season as world number one. However, if he wins his next match and reaches the quarter-finals, he could take the place of the injured Italian Jannik Sinner in the ranking to be announced next Monday.