World No. 25 Karen Khachanov has commented on his defeat to Tommy Paul in the round of 16 at the Madrid Masters tournament, where the score was 3/6, 6/3, 2/6.
Asked about how close he felt he was to completing a comeback, Khachanov said he didn`t immediately find his rhythm in the match and his level wasn`t initially where it needed to be. However, he managed to break Paul in the second set and turn the match around. The crucial moments came in the third set on break points, where he couldn`t execute despite being prepared for Paul`s tactics, specifically his wide serve. Khachanov admitted failing to return it into the court twice, which allowed Paul to regain momentum.
“Then he started serving really well, serve after serve after serve. And my serve just wasn`t working. It sounds crazy, but sometimes that happens,” Khachanov added.
Reflecting on his overall form and whether he needs to make significant changes or simply persist, Khachanov noted that his recent losses have all been close matches. He highlighted reaching the semi-finals in Barcelona as an improved result. He suggested that he might need to get better and more precise at adjusting his game during a match. He also pointed out that he isn`t playing against easy opponents, and even with a good level, you can still lose.
Considering his performance dynamic compared to the previous week is better, Khachanov feels he should largely continue on his current path. He acknowledged that his level can be volatile, even within a single match. Sometimes you win when not playing your best, and then play two fantastic matches back-to-back. Therefore, he believes it`s important to approach this volatility with more calmness and a positive mindset.
On the Tournament Blackout
The Russian player also shared his experience regarding the power outage that occurred at the tournament the previous day.
Khachanov recounted being in the gym warming up when the lights went out. Initially, nobody understood what was happening. They went to the court, and after warming up there, it became clear the outage wasn`t limited just to the stadium.
He described a general feeling of bewilderment, as nobody had ever been in such a situation before. The sensation, he said, was similar to the first days of the pandemic – not understanding what was going on or how to react. He expressed relief that they managed to sort things out within about 10 hours.
Regarding phone connectivity during the blackout, Khachanov said his phone battery lasted, but the network wasn`t always working. He sometimes managed to catch a signal to message his wife, sometimes using his Russian number, sometimes his coach`s phone. He joked that SMS messages made a comeback, and he was close to sending a carrier pigeon if he couldn`t connect.
He concluded that the main thing is not to panic, as people tend to get flustered without their phones, wondering how to communicate or what to do. He stressed the importance of being prepared even for such unexpected situations.
Marcus Prine