Karen Khachanov is through to quarterfinals for the fourth time in the last five years at the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN. After the 7:6, 6:4-win against Laslo Djere the 26-year-old would like to reach the semi-finals for the second time in Halle after 2017. The Serbian Djere, on the other hand, has to wait furthermore to reach his first quarterfinals on grass. Up till now the number 62 has only achieved this on clay (19) and hard court (2).
Khachanov wasn’t concentrating at the beginning, made too many easy mistakes, received two breaks and was behind quickly 2:5. However, he lost his temper and this brought him back just before losing the set. He struck the ball out of the OWL Arena after a bad shot for which he received a code violation. The World No 23 was able to shake this off, however, because he was back in the match again; mentally, at least. Just after that he fended off two set points, and Djere’s trembling hand helped Khachanov with his service, too. The number 8 seeded was back completely and underlined his role as favourite in the tiebreak. This went to Khachanov 7:4.
The story of set number two can be told quickly. Khachanov was already able to break Djere in the first game; both players brought their service through. Khachanov converted his second match point after 1:42 hours at make it 6:4. “That was a competitive match, I am happy to have won it”, he said. According to him this can go on in Halle.
Djere, for whom the biggest success has been his victory of the tournament in Rio 2019 (ATP 500), had defeated German qualifier Henri Squire in the first round. However, the young German had had to give up due to injury at a score of 3:4 after just 25 minutes. Khachanov, winner of the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, has, on the other hand, already played quite a number of rallies more so far. Against Aslan Karatsev he played three sets.
