Karen Khachanov beat Alex Bolt 6-4 6-4 after 1 hour and 50 minutes to reach the quarter final at the Huafa Properties Zhuhai Championships. Khachanov earned his first tour-level win since June.
Khachanov earned his first break in the opening game. The Russian player broke in the ninth game and held on his next service games to close out the match.
Khachanov was playing his second match since his quarter final match at Roland Garros, where he suffered a stress fracture in his back. The Russian player saved all ten break points.
Khachanov lost his first round match at the US Open on his return on the Tour.
“I played at the US Open, but it was another tournament after the injury at Roland Garros and for me it was very important to get the rhythm and the match. I feel better than three weeks ago at the US Open. I was looking to find the rhythm and find the form and it is very important for me to play matches and be competitive”, said Khachanov.
Khachanov set up a match against Mackenzie McDonald, who came back from one set down to beat Belgium’s Kimmer Coppejans 4-6 6-3 6-2.
McDonald earned the first break in the fourth game to take a 4-2 lead. Coppejans won four consecutive games to close out the first set 6-4. McDonald broke serve in the second game to close out the second set 6-3.
McDonald earned two breaks in the first and third games to close out the third set 6-2.
Yoshihito Nishioka battled past Lloyd Harris 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) after 2 hours and 7 minutes. Nishioka won 81% of his first serve points and did not face any break points. Both players held on their service games en route to the tie-break. Nishioka went up a double mini-break to take a 4-1 lead. Harris pulled both mini-breaks back to draw level to 4-4. Nishioka earned his third mini-break on the ninth point to win the tie-break 7-4. The second set also went on serve en route to the tie-break. Nishioka earned his only mini-break on the 11th point to win the second set 7-5.
Nishioka will take on Jan Lennard Struff, who overcame Cristian Garin 6-3 1-6 6-4 in 2 hours and 2 minutes. Struff is playing in his first tournament since Halle after suffering from a hip injury. Struff broke serve in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. The German player converted his third break point in the ninth game to win the first set 6-3. Garin broke three times to win the second set 6-1. Struff started the third set with a break in the first game and sealed the win on his first match point in the 10thgame.
