Tennis

Australian Open: Karen Khachanov completes quarter-final run at Majors

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Karen Khachanov is through to his fourth Major quarter-final at the Australian Open. Karen has reached the last eight at all four Major events, becoming the third player born since 1990 who achieved that after Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner. Karen advanced to his second consecutive Major quarter-final following a 6-0, 6-0, 7-6 victory over Yoshihito Nishioka in an hour and 58 minutes at John Cain Arena. The Russian was the only player on the court in the opening two sets, delivering a double bagel in 46 minutes and moving closer to the finish line. The Japanese raised his level in the third set, reaching a tie break and losing it 7-4 to propel the rival over the top. Khachanov fired 15 aces and hit 30 winners and 23 unforced errors. Karen grabbed 43 out of 46 points after landing the first serve in and got broken once. He delivered seven consecutive breaks of serve for a 6-0, 6-0, 2-0 advantage before the Japanese earned his only break to make the third set exciting and avoid a complete disaster.

Karen Khachanov is in the Australian Open quarter-final for the first time.

Karen destroyed Yoshihito in the shortest range up to four strokes, forging his victory in that segment after a tight battle in the more advanced exchanges. A left-handed Japanese sprayed a forehand error in the encounter’s second game to experience an early setback. Khachanov broke again in the fourth game after the rival’s loose forehand and wrapped up the opener with his third break in game six for 6-0 in 26 minutes. Nishioka barely tried in set number two, winning only two points for the most one-sided set of the entire season on the ATP Tour! Khachanov claimed 20 points in a row since the first game and earned his second bagel in swift 20 minutes to sail toward the finish line.

Nishioka squandered a break point at the start of the third set, already doing more than in the entire second. Khachanov broke him in game two to rattle off 14 straight games and extend his domination. Yoshihito finally ended his losing streak with a break in game three that boosted his energy. Both players served well in the next games to remain locked at 4-4. Karen denied two break points in game nine with winners, with no more chances for the returners ahead of the tie break. The servers claimed the opening nine points, and Khachanov gained a 5-4 lead after the rival’s backhand error. Nishioka sprayed a forehand mistake in the tenth point to fall 6-4 behind and offer his opponent two match points. The Russian seized the first when the Japanese placed a forehand wide to advance into the last eight for the first time in Melbourne. 

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