“My brain clicked” – Khachanov cracks Grand Slam code as Djokovic lies in wait in Roland-Garros quarter-final

Khachanov has now reached at least the quarter-final stage in each of the last three Grand Slams he has played. The Russian faces Novak Djokovic next.

Karen Khachanov, Roland-Garros 2023 – © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Jamie Malachy

June 4, 2023

Over the past ten months, Karen Khachanov has become a familiar face at the business end of Grand Slams.

Between Roland-Garros 2019 and Wimbledon 2021, the Russian did not make a single quarter-final – and only reached the second week of a Grand Slam on one occasion during this time.

Despite being a talented player capable of causing trouble for the very biggest players in the game, Khachanov found himself drifting into the rather ambiguous position of being a perennial third- or fourth-round Grand Slam player. In short, he struggled to make an impact at the biggest tournaments in the sport.

Roland-Garros continues Grand Slam run for Khachanov

However, prior to this year’s Roland-Garros, the world No 11 reached consecutive semi-finals at the US Open last season and at the Australian Open in January.

Khachanov has now backed up those two breakthrough runs with another surge to the last eight in Paris this fortnight – his joint-best finish yet at the year’s second Grand Slam.

When asked about this sudden new-found success at Grand Slams, following his fourth round win over Lorenzo Sonego, the Russian attributed the change to a shift in mental attitude more than anything else.

“My brain clicked, you know,” he smiled. “That helped, no?

“To be honest, I said it last year, I think after reaching the first semi-finals in US Open, you know, a lot of things changed in my head also. And in my mental part, you know, I saw that I could do this step forward, you know. After playing quarterfinals, I could do this step forward to make semi-finals first time.”

Mental shift after US Open key to Grand Slam success

Reaching the last four in New York turbocharged Khachanov’s confidence, giving him belief that he could replicate that success. From there, he never looked back.

“I think, yeah, this self-belief and confidence, they just stay there no matter, not matter depending on the results, you know.

“So it’s really this step forward that I felt after US Open.”

Khachanov faces a mammoth task in his bid to reach a third consecutive Grand Slam semi-final, however. He will take on Novak Djokovic as he seeks to gain a place in the last four at Roland-Garros for the first time in his career.

The Serb appears to be hitting form and fitness at just the right time in this tournament, as we have witnessed him do time and time again.

Interestingly, Khachanov views matches against Djokovic as the ultimate chess match. In order to win, you need to outmanoeuvre him, not simply out-hit him.

“I’m not going to tell you my chess moves, no? Because you’re going to tell him straightaway (smiling)”, Khachanov said, when asked about how he plans to counter the immense threat posed by the Serb.

“Yeah, against him, you need to play really good chess, I mean, I guess to beat him. But definitely I will prepare tomorrow.

But of course, you know, he’s one of the toughest tasks, toughest opponents, and, you know, you cannot count him out.”

For Djokovic, the match will be his 17th quarter-final at Roland-Garros alone – a record at the tournament.

For Khachanov, this will be just the fifth Grand Slam quarter-final of his career. There is a gulf in experience between the two.

Importantly, though, this fifth quarter-final for the Russian is also his third in a row. Perhaps he is starting get a feel for what it take to succeed at this level.

Khachanov himself certainly feels confident. “I have ultimate respect, but I’m focused, you know, I’m pumped to do well, and let’s see if I can make it or not this time.”