Khachanov makes US Open last 16 after unlucky Draper injury

Karen Khachanov benefited from the abandonment of Jack Draper (6-3, 4-6, 6-5) on Friday evening. He’ll play the winner of the match between Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, the No 12 seed, and Australian Alex De Minaur, the No 18 seed, in the next round

Karen Khachanov, US Open 2022. (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

Tennis Majors

September 2, 2022

Russian Karen Khachanov, the No 27 seed, moved into the last 16 of the US Open when Jack Draper retired due to a groin injury at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Friday.

Khachanov, ranked No 31, led 6-3, 4-6, 6-5 when Draper, ranked No 53, pulled out – having received treatment off court, and having led 5-2 in the third set.

“It was just the top of my hamstring, like the insertion between the hamstring and the groin,” he revealed afterwards. “I’ve had problems with it before, and maybe this time it was just a lot of tennis I’ve played in the last seven weeks maybe just caught up a little bit on me.

I feel like when you strain something, and getting worse, there is just no going back from that, really.
Jack Draper

“I think I did it 2-0 in the third. I went out to a wide ball and I just felt a twinge. I feel like when you strain something, and getting worse, there is just no going back from that, really.”

The Russian will face the winner of the match between Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, the No 12 seed, and Australian Alex De Minaur, the No 18 seed, next.

Ahead of his victory, Karen Khachanov won against American Denis Kudla (3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2) and edged out Brazilian Thiago Monteiro (6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4).

Jack Draper defeated Finn Emil Ruusuvuori (6-4, 6-3, 6-3) and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No 6 seed (6-4, 6-4, 6-4).

He is the youngest British man in the US Open third round since Andy Murray in 2007 – also aged 20.

US Open, other third-round results: