Khachanov Reaches First Final In Chengdu
Khachanov Reaches First Final In Chengdu
#NextGen star shining in Asia
A third #NextGen star could be in line to win his first ATP World Tour title in 2016 after Karen Khachanov reached the Chengdu Open final with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over sixth seed Viktor Troicki on Saturday.
Nick Kyrgios (Marseille, Atlanta) and Alexander Zverev (St. Petersburg) are both #NextGen first-time ATP winners this season. Taylor Fritz (Memphis) and Borna Coric (Chennai and Marrakech) have also reached their first finals in what has been a breakout season for the Next Generation on the ATP World Tour.
The 20-year-old Khachanov has taken down three seeded players to reach the final of this ATP World Tour 250 tournament, also upsetting seventh seed Joao Sousa in the first round and fourth seed Feliciano Lopez in the quarter-finals.
“It feels great for me to be in the final,” Khachanov said. “Dreams are coming true, to be playing in my first ATP World Tour final tomorrow. Of course it gives me confidence. In the first round I also beat the seventh seed and yesterday I beat the fourth seed. It gave me confidence going into today’s semi-finals. I will just try to focus on my game and follow the plan I have with my coach. If it goes well, it goes well. If not, I’ll change it during the match. The mental aspect is one of the most important and that’s why you have to be focused.”
The Russian maintained his rich vein of form as he broke Troicki three times from six opportunities and lost just seven points behind his first serve, claiming victory in 82 minutes.
In the final, Khachanov will face Albert Ramos-Vinolas, whom he has played twice before, with the Spaniard winning their most recent contest on clay in Istanbul this year.
Fourth Seeds Reach Final
Fourth seeds Pablo Carreno Busta and Mariusz Fyrstenberg reached the Chengdu Open doubles final as they defeated Adil Shamasdin and Andreas Siljestrom 7-6(4), 6-3 in 75 minutes.
The Spanish/Polish duo will face Barclays ATP World Tour Finals contenders Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram in the final. Carreno Busta is chasing his second ATP World Tour doubles crown, after lifting the Quito trophy with Guillermo Duran in February, while Fyrstenberg is chasing his 19th title.