Carlos Alcaraz beats Karen Khachanov in Rome to qualify for quarterfinal

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Karen Khachanov 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Tuesday to qualify for the quarterfinal in Rome. The Spaniard broke the opponent’s serve in the eighth game of the opening set and took the opening set convincingly

In the second set, Alcaraz took a 3-2 lead but lost the next four games as Khachanov was able to equalise. However, the Spaniard took the third set to advance in the ATP 1000 Masters.

With this win, Alcaraz maintains his perfect Lexus ATP Head 2 Head record against Khachanov.

“It feels amazing to get the win at the end against a really big and really tough guy like Khachanov,” said Alcaraz. “Physically I struggled a bit. Not any pain on any part of the body, but I was just tired. The match was really tough. I had to run a lot, so I’m just really proud of the way I fought for every ball.

“At a break up in the second set, from then to the end of the second set, I probably lost focus a little bit. He started to play great, but I was really happy to forget it and come into the third set as good as I could. I just fought, and I’m really happy about that.”

Alcaraz will next take on in-form Jack Draper, who recently finished as the runners-up in the Madrid Open.

“Jack is playing great,” said Alcaraz of Draper, who will rise to a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings next Monday should he win the pair’s quarter-final. “The way he’s playing is really high. I’ve been watching his matches. The way he plays is huge, and I have to be ready for that. I think it’s going to be a great battle.”

Alcaraz has a 3-2 record against Draper.