WHAT HAPPENED: Russian Karen Khachanov steamrolled past countryman Andrey Kuznetsov on Thursday to match his best showing at the US Open.
The 11th-seeded Khachanov broke six times and overpowered his elder statesman, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, to reach the third round in Queens for the second time (his first was in 2018).
“I felt good," Khachanov said. "From the beginning, I had a mindset that I have to go for it. This is my game. I have to, not relax, but at the end of the day, do what I practice, do what depends on me. And if I make it, I make it. If not, we need to go to practice.”
“But it's more about the mindset and the way you are seeing the things, and I'm really happy that I could deliver that performance today.”
The big-hitting and fast-moving Russian will face Aussie Alex de Minaur for a spot in his first Round of 16 at a hard-court Grand Slam. The 21st-seeded de Minaur beat France’s Richard Gasquet, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 7-5.
Khachanov enjoyed his major breakthrough last year when he advanced to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. The bouncy red clay in Paris suits his game as it gives him and his extreme forehand grip plenty of time to work.
“I don’t say that clay is my favorite surface. I think it just happened overall that I got through [some] tough matches,” said Khachanov, who beat Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro to make the quarterfinals in Paris.
But Khachanov has never reached the final eight at any other major, something he’ll look to change during the next week at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The 24-year-old was never challenged by Kuznetsov, who has been one of the feel-good stories of the Open so far.
The 29-year-old hadn’t played a tour-level match before this week in two years and seven months because of a hip injury he’s had since he was a child.
In his opener, Kuznetsov beat American Sam Querrey for his first tour-level win since August 2017 at Winston-Salem.
Against Khachanov, however, Kuznetsov never looked comfortable. He was often pushed feet behind the baseline, left to try to defend as Khachanov stepped into the court and hammered away at forehand after forehand and second-serve returns.
Kuznetsov won only 28 percent (8 of 29) of his second-serve points.
WHAT IT MEANS: The 6-foot-6 Khachanov has long been compared to countryman and former No. 1 Marat Safin for his power and movement, and Khachanov resembled a second-week regular on Court 5 with his dominating play.
But he’ll have a tougher time teeing off on forehands from the baseline in his third-round encounter against the speedy de Minaur. It will be their first meeting.
MATCH POINT: Khachanov has drawn rave reviews from former pros and analysts for his big game. What’s holding him back from making a deep run at a major, or is it just a matter of more experience?
