Carlos Alcaraz admits to having physical struggles during his victory over Khachanov at the Rome Open

Carlos Alcaraz is working his way back to peak form following his absence from the Madrid Open due to injury. At the Rome Open, the Spanish star overcame World No. 24 Karen Khachanov in a grueling fourth-round match, battling through physical challenges to secure a hard-fought victory.

The four-time Grand Slam champion defeated the Russian 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in what proved to be a physically taxing contest. Alcaraz, who is returning from an adductor injury sustained during the Barcelona Open final loss to Holger Rune, admitted that the match took a toll on him.

After the game, the Spaniard highlighted his hard-fought victory against a tough opponent like Khachanov and also revealed that he experienced minor physical struggles during the contest. “It feels amazing to get the win at the end against a really big and really tough guy like Khachanov,” the 22-year-old told Tennis TV.

“Physically I struggled a bit,” he added. “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”.

Alcaraz reflects on his battle

Alcaraz showed signs of fatigue during the second set, which Khachanov capitalized on to level the match. Reflecting on the turning point, Alcaraz admitted he lost focus after being broken in the second set but credited his resilience for helping him regain control in the decisive third set.

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“At a break up in the second set, from then to the end of the second set, I probably lost focus a little bit,” Alcaraz admitted. “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”.

What’s next for Alcaraz?

With his win over Khachanov, Alcaraz advances to face World No. 5 Jack Draper in the next round. The Spaniard acknowledged Draper’s recent form, calling him one of the best players in the world at the moment. He also hinted at extra motivation, looking to avenge his loss to Draper at Indian Wells earlier this year.

“He’s one of the best players in the world right now,” Alcaraz said of Draper. “The results show how good he is playing lately. [I] just want to take revenge from Indian Wells. I will try to be more ready. It’s going to be an interesting match to watch and to play”.