Vienna indoor drama: Alcaraz downs Khachanov in straight sets as Zverev survives 13-11 tiebreak

Alcaraz tested but unyielding at Wiener Stadthalle

Carlos Alcaraz commenced his indoor European swing with authority on Tuesday, 27 October, battling past Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-6(5) in a high-octane opening clash at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. Facing one of the tour’s most lethal flat hitters on the quick Austrian courts, the second-seeded Spaniard recovered from an early 1-3 deficit in the first set, relying on punishing forehand depth and signature court coverage.

The second set developed into a heavyweight slugfest with neither man yielding an inch on serve. In a scintillating tiebreak at 5-5, Alcaraz drew gasps from the packed Wiener Stadthalle crowd with an exquisite disguised backhand drop shot that clipped the sideline. A rasping overhead smash on the following point sealed the triumph in one hour and 48 minutes, pushing Alcaraz into a second-round meeting with wildcard Jurij Rodionov.

Zverev survives 24-point tiebreak epic

While Alcaraz advanced in straight sets, top seed Alexander Zverev was pushed to the brink of disaster by Spanish prodigy Martin Landaluce. In a match lasting nearly three hours, the 20-year-old qualifier matched Zverev stroke for stroke, forcing a deciding third-set tiebreak. The ensuing 24-point tiebreak proved one of the most dramatic passages of the 2026 tennis season, with Zverev saving two match points with unreturnable first serves before prevailing 13-11.

With Daniil Medvedev also entering the draw following his title defense in Almaty, the Erste Bank Open has immediately established itself as the center of the tennis universe this week. Players are scrapping for every available ranking point with the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin looming just weeks away.