Alcaraz will make his first appearance in Vienna since 2021.
Chris OddoOctober 25, 20262 minute read
The ATP 500 event in Vienna is set for a blockbuster week of tennis, with eight of the world’s Top 16 players in the draw and several popcorn first-round clashes on tap at the Erste Bank Open.
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz returns to the Austrian capital for the first time since 2021, when Alexander Zverev defeated him in the semifinals and went on to capture the title. Alcaraz, it should be noted, was No.42 in the world at the time and had not won his first Grand Slam title.
The Spaniard, who is seeded second this year and now a seven-time major champion, will face Karen Khachanov in a challenging first-round encounter.
Alcaraz is bidding for his 28th career title and fourth of 2026. The 23-year-old enters with a 33-5 record on the season, having recently been overtaken in the rankings by two-time Grand Slam champion Zverev.
The man known to most simply as Carlitos was a major attraction on the practice courts on Saturday, hitting with former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov at the Marx-Halle, the historic former cattle market that now serves as the tournament’s second venue. Former Vienna champion Zverev had also taken to the court earlier to prepare for the indoor event.
Zverev, the top seed, opens against Spanish wild card Martin Landaluce, while several other first-round matches promise fireworks.Sixth seed Frances Tiafoe will square off against Lorenzo Musetti in one of the marquee encounters, while fourth seed Flavio Cobolli meets Dimitrov in another intriguing battle.
Elsewhere, seventh seed Tommy Paul faces Andrey Rublev, Matteo Berrettini meets Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and third seed Daniil Medvedev opens against Spain’s Daniel Merida.
The Erste Bank Open gets underway Monday, October 26, with the champion to be crowned on Sunday, November 1.
