Carlos Alcaraz battles into Italian Open quarter finals

ROME – A tired Carlos Alcaraz reached the Italian Open quarter-finals on May 13 after battling past Karen Khachanov 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to continue his bid for a first Rome title.

Third seed Alcaraz had never lost a set in his previous four meetings with Russia’s Khachanov but was forced to fight on the Foro Italico centre court.

Alcaraz, 22, needs to get to the Rome semis not just for a chance at his third title of the season, but also to secure a top-two seeding at the French Open, which begins later in May.

The Spaniard took his 12th clay-court win of 2025 to set up a clash in the last eight with fifth seed Jack Draper, a winner over France’s Corentin Moutet.

“It was tiring,” said Alcaraz.

“You know the match was really tough. I had to run. I had to run a lot.

“I didn’t play well. I just fought and I’m just really happy about it.”

Alcaraz seemed set to cruise through when he rattled off six games in a row to win the first set and the first game of the second.

Khachanov’s fate looked sealed when his serve was broken in the fifth game of the second set, but the big hitter had other ideas and immediately broke back before claiming the set.

And the 28-year-old showed incredible spirit to win three games on the bounce to level the third set at 4-4, just as Alcaraz looked certain to win.

But Alcaraz would not be denied and took an entertaining match at the second time of asking.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray and former rival Novak Djokovic have ended their coaching partnership after six months, the pair announced on May 13.

Djokovic stunned the tennis world in November when he hired the retired Murray, who had