The Vienna Open is now underway, with both Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev having won their opening matches.
And both ATP superstars were certainly put to the test in round one, where Alcaraz overcame Karen Khachanov and Zverev battled past Martin Landaluce. The Spaniard won 6-4, 7-6(7-5), while the German triumphed 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(13-11).
The pair are the top two seeds at the Vienna Open, ahead of which The Tennis Gazette asked its readers who they think will win the tournament on TalkingPoints. Their fellow stars Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Alex de Minaur and Frances Tiafoe were also included in the poll, which is currently led by Alcaraz.
Tennis Gazette readers back Carlos Alcaraz to win in Vienna over Alexander Zverev
After almost 150 votes, Alcaraz has been backed by over 50% of The Tennis Gazette readers to win the Vienna Open. He is followed by Zverev on just 21.32%.
Recent Almaty Open champion Medvedev is third on 10.29%, with De Minaur next in line on 6.62%. After that, readers are torn between Cobolli and another champion entirely, with Tiafoe currently last in the voting at this early stage of the tournament.
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Carlos Alcaraz gives his opinion on the Vienna Open conditions
It was an intriguing start for Zverev to say the least, with the impending world number one pushed to the limit by rising star Landaluce. They battled it out for over three hours before the German finally emerged victorious.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz produced many moments of magic during his entertaining clash with Khachanov, after which he discussed the conditions and indeed the loud music during changeovers.
Speaking to the media in Vienna, he said of the music: “I would say it’s a little bit too loud, I’m not going to lie. But it’s our changeover. And I would say that that time is also the fans’ time. If they wanted to keep the music, if they want the song or the music or whatever, it’s their time as well. So it’s not a reason to change it.
“But once you get used to it, you focus on your own ideas and your own head. And it doesn’t matter what’s going on outside. So just for me, it was at one point I just got used to it and I didn’t mind.
“And the surface, I think the conditions were great. The balls become super fluffy to be honest. And sometimes it’s really difficult to generate power a bit. But it’s just I would say a good surface and I liked it.”
His ATP rival De Minaur called the Vienna conditions “heavy” after his opening match, where he came from behind to beat Tomas Machac 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. Cobolli is also into round two, while Medvedev and Tiafoe are yet to get underway.
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