Carlos Alcaraz will return to the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, where he is scheduled to play his first match on Tuesday, October 27. His participation is notable given the history between the Spanish player and the Austrian tournament.
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In 2023, Herwig Straka, the tournament director, expressed concerns over Alcaraz’s appearance fee, calling it "too expensive" for Vienna. José Moron, director of the Spanish media outlet Punto de Break, highlighted that discussions regarding Alcaraz’s return had previously stalled due to high financial demands. At that time, reports indicated Alcaraz was seeking approximately 750,000 euros just to enter the tournament, a figure Straka considered excessive.
Alcaraz initially competed at the Vienna tournament in 2021, reaching the semifinals before losing to Alexander Zverev. However, there was no follow-up appearance until this year.
The Austrian tournament announced that Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, would play in the 2026 edition, scheduled from October 24 to November 1. Negotiations reportedly accelerated after the postponement of the Six Kings Slam, originally set for the following week in Saudi Arabia.
Straka noted that the delayed event prompted him to reach out to Alcaraz's team, leading to a quick agreement. Moron raised questions about the financial implications of Alcaraz’s return, particularly since the withdrawal of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner may have allowed for budget adjustments to accommodate Alcaraz’s appearance.