Alcaraz wins his duel against Khachanov and reaches the quarterfinals for the first time in Rome
Carlos Alcaraz secured his spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Karen Khachanov (6-3, 3-6, 7-5) in a match lasting 2 hours and 27 minutes.
After a first set dominated by the Spaniard, featuring 10 winners and 100% break point conversion (2/2), the Russian gradually fought his way back into the match, becoming more aggressive on his first serves to level the score at one set apiece. In a tightly contested final set, Khachanov pushed Alcaraz to the brink, but the world No. 3 ultimately broke his opponent to clinch the victory.
With this win, the Spaniard notches his 12th victory in 13 clay-court matches this season and his fifth in the Italian capital. He will now face Draper, who defeated Moutet in the previous round, for a place in the semifinals.
The El Palmar native also boasts 24 wins against just two losses on clay over the past year and has now reached the quarterfinals of every Masters 1000 event.
Rome 
