Did Alcaraz Triumph Over Khachanov to Enter Quarterfinals in Rome?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Alcaraz secured his first quarterfinals appearance at the Italian Open.
- The match lasted for two hours and 29 minutes.
- He is the first Spaniard to reach this stage since Nadal in 2021.
- Alcaraz aims to reclaim the No. 2 ATP Ranking.
- Next, he will compete against Jack Draper in the semifinals.
Rome, May 13 (NationPress) Alcaraz made history by reaching the quarterfinals of the Italian Open for the very first time, securing a thrilling 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win against Karen Khachanov at the Campo Centrale on Tuesday.
In a match that lasted two hours and 29 minutes, Alcaraz has now achieved quarterfinal status in all nine Masters 1000 tournaments. The 22-year-old Spaniard is also the first from his country to reach the last eight in Rome since the legendary Rafael Nadal, a 10-time champion, did so in 2021.
Although Alcaraz struggled initially to find his rhythm, he soon flipped the momentum, winning five consecutive games highlighted by impressive shot-making. He seemed on course for victory when he executed three remarkable clean winners, breaking Khachanov's serve for a 3-2 lead in the second set.
Despite the potential for another straight-sets loss, Khachanov remained focused and minimized his errors, capitalizing on a dip in Alcaraz's performance to win four games in a row and push the match into a deciding set, according to ATP.
In the final set, Alcaraz quickly built a 4-1 lead, but Khachanov fought valiantly in pursuit of his first Top 3 victory on clay. Just in time, Alcaraz regained his form, breaking Khachanov's serve in the 12th game to clinch the match.
Next, Alcaraz will face fifth seed Jack Draper in the semifinals after Draper came back to defeat Corentin Moutet with a scoreline of 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
With this win, Alcaraz has the opportunity to reclaim the No. 2 ATP Ranking this week and ensure a second seed position at Roland Garros. Meanwhile, Draper is also aiming for a career-high No. 4 ranking, which would secure him the crucial fourth seed at this year's second major.
Alcaraz can solidify his return to World No. 2 and secure the second seed in Paris by advancing to the semifinals in Rome.