Khachanov Powers Past Anderson, Opelka Upset
There was a battle of big bangers on Court 5 at Melbourne Park Friday, but only one was able to advance.
Second seed Karen Khachanov battled past former World No. 5 Kevin Anderson 6-3, 7-6(5) to reach the quarter-finals of the Great Ocean Road Open.
Khachanov won 82 per cent of his first-serve points and saved all five break points he faced to advance after one hour and 38 minutes. There was only one service break in the match, and that came against the 6’8″ Anderson in the first set.
The South African had won the pair’s only previous ATP Head2Head meeting at the Miami Open presented by Itau in 2018. At that point, Anderson was entrenched in the Top 10, and Khachanov was fresh off his appearance at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in 2017.
[WATCH LIVE 2]Khachanov lost three of his final four matches of the 2020 season, but he is off to a quick start in 2021, claiming both of his victories in the Great Ocean Road Open in straight sets. Anderson is currently World No. 82, and he is battling back into form after struggling with injuries over the past two seasons.
Khachanov will play Botic Van de Zandschulp for a spot in the semi-finals. The Dutchman upset big-serving American Reilly Opelka, the sixth seed, 7-6(6), 7-6(4) after one hour and 46 minutes.
Van de Zandschulp, the World No. 159, began the week with zero tour-level wins. Now the 25-year-old has three, and he has only lost one set. The unseeded player won 92 per cent of his first-serve points, dropping only four points behind his first delivery.
Did You Know?
All third-round singles winners on Friday at Melbourne Park will play their quarter-final match later in the day.