Getting To Know Karen Khachanov

In his free time he likes playing chess and reading classic Roman novels. He’s studying long-distance for a degree in Physical Education at the University of Moscow. And on Tuesday he recorded his first Top 20 win over Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round of the Barcelona Open BancSabadell. Did we mention he also played basketball at a national level when he was in high school? 

Meet 19-year-old #NextGen star Karen Khachanov.

Having picked up a racquet for the first time aged three, the Russian grew up watching and idolising Marat Safin. And at 6’6’’, with booming groundstrokes of his own, and a mature head on his shoulders, Khachanov could well emulate two-time Grand Slam champion Safin one day. 

“It’s strange feelings right now,” Khachanov told ATPWorldTour.com in Barcelona. “I’m happy to be here (on the ATP World Tour). In my first few matches I was a little bit nervous, playing in big events. But I want to be here as much as I can and to play these kind of tournaments. It’s a big pleasure for me.

“I have a big serve and my style of game is to play more aggressive. The backhand down the line is my favourite shot and also running around my forehand. In general, it’s aggressive.”

Now 19, Khachanov first left home when he was 15 years old to go and train in Croatia with Goran Ivanisevic’s former coach, Vedran Martic. Aged 17, he announced his arrival on the ATP World Tour on home soil when he reached the quarter-finals in Moscow, beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Janko Tipsarevic before losing to Ivo Karlovic.

Since he was 18, Khachanov has been based in Barcelona, where he now trains with Galo Blanco – former coach of Milos Raonic. Already fluent in English, Khachanov is now learning Spanish, and already understands almost everything, even if he lacks confidence in speaking it. 

Fellow Russian Next Generation player Andrey Rublev, whom Khachanov has known since he was eight, is a regular training partner in Barcelona.

Currently at No. 138 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Khachanov is working hard to improve his game this season with the hopes of cracking the Top 100 soon. If his performance against Bautista Agut, one of the toughest competitors on tour, is anything to go by, that landmark won’t be far off.