Precocious Alcaraz eases past Evans to record first indoor win in Vienna

ATP500 Vienna | Draw | Program

Carlos Alcaraz racked up another impressive victory of his breakthrough season on Monday, with Dan Evans this time finding out first hand just how talented the Spaniard is.

The 18-year-old, who came into the week ranked 42, upset world No 24 Evans 6-4, 6-3 to reach the second round of the Erste Bank Open. It’s the first indoor win for the US Open quarter-finalist and he will now play former world No 1 Andy Murray, who scored his first top 10 win of the season with a three-set victory over Hubert Hurkacz, of Poland.

The first set began with a couple of breaks early on, Alcaraz breaking first only to be pegged back. Evans repeated the trick to level at 4-4 but Alcaraz, who thumped one blistering forehand down the line early on, then broke for a third time to take the opening set.

Evans, who like Alcaraz, won his first Tour title earlier this year, hit back to lead 3-1 in the second set but the Spaniard then turned on the style, winning 17 of the last 18 points and finishing with his third ace to advance to round two.

Berrettini wins first round and qualifies for ATP Finals

In other first round matches, third seed Matteo Berrettini scored a 7-6, 6-3 win over qualifier Alexei Popyrin and also learnt on Monday that he had become the sixth player to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals.

Indian Wells finalist Nikoloz Basilashvili needed three sets to defeat Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 and Alex de Minaur beat former top 5 player Kevin Anderson 6-3, 7-6.

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