Young Russian Karen Khachanov has secured a massive win in his career. He moved into the third round of a grand slam for the first time, by defeating former Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.
The match began with a spectacular first set. Both of the players have played hard-hitting from the baseline, especially with the forehand. The crucial difference was made by Khachanov’s backhand, which was much more effective and made the Russian prevail on backhand rallies. Borrowing a boxing-slang, Khachanov deserved to win the set because he has had more break-points and so we may say he earned it “on points”.
The second set was less spectacular, the Russian gained an early break of advantage (he took a 2-1 and serve lead) and kept the advantage until the end of the set, without struggling much on serve. Khachanov and Berdych elected to stay mostly at the baseline with few approaches to the net or drop-shots, and Khachanov managed to outhit the 2010 Wimbledon finalist.
The third set was the least thrilling one. Khachanov took an immediate break and managed to hold for the rest of the set without being unduly troubled by Berdych.
Karen Khachanov displayed great maturity in winning with ease against a great player such as Berdych, showing also self-control in not getting caught by anger because of the many break-points which he wasted in the first set.
Berdych will be disappointed with an earlier than expected exit form his second grand slam in a row. He was beaten by Roger Federer at the Australian Open. However, a runner-up display in Lyon last week (l. to Tsonga) suggested that the veteran Czech may be returning to form. That has proven to not be the case with the result here.
In the third round Khachanov will face John Isner, in a match which promises to be again a clash of serve and forehand. John Isner has today won against the Italian Paolo Lorenzi.
- Additional reporting by Giovanni Vianello
