Karen Khachanov secured a 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 win over fellow Russian talent Andrey Rublev to move into his first ATP grass court semi-final at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle.
The 6’6 Russian edged a tight first set, winning a tiebreak 10-8. Rublev is a former Roland Garros Juniors winner but he showed some good grass nous to break twice in the second set to force a decider.
Khachanov won a third set where again both players broke at least once. Despite 19 aces Khachanov was broken five times, an unusually high number for a player as tall as he is on grass. It suggests an inconsistency to deliver enough first serves to dominate service games.
Despite his defeat in the quarter-finals Rublev’s run is likely to reward him with a significant career milestone. Ranked at No.106 before the tournament, the 90 ATP points earned for his two wins this week should move him into the Top 100 for the first time.
It has been a good week for young Russians, with Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals of the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club in London. He faces sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov in the third match of the day.
Khachanov will face the winner of a match that features eight time winner Roger Federer and defending champion Florian Mayer.
Frenchman Richard Gasquet appeared to put his recent injury problems behind him. He defeated the in-form Robin Haase 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 in the day’s second quarter-final. He will face the winner of the match between Roberto Bautista Agut and fourth seed Alexander Zverev.
