Khachanov's Winning Streak Ends Dimitrov's Turin Dreams
This performance marks Khachanov's fifth appearance in an ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, adding to his previous title in Paris back in 2018. The victory was particularly noteworthy, considering he had not won against Dimitrov in their last four meetings, including a close match in Marseille earlier this year.
Karen Khachanov ended his four-match losing streak against Grigor Dimitrov with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory in the quarter-finals of the Rolex Paris Masters, eliminating Dimitrov from contention for the Nitto ATP Finals.
Dimitrov's Elimination from Finals Contention
For Dimitrov, the stakes were high; he needed to defeat Khachanov and advance to the final to surpass Alex De Minaur in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin and secure a spot in the season finale, a tournament he first participated in back in 2017. However, after a physically demanding third-set tie-break victory over Arthur Rinderknech the previous night, Dimitrov lacked his usual energy and spark.
In stark contrast, Khachanov entered the match on a hot streak, having won 12 of his last 13 matches, including a title in Almaty and a final appearance in Vienna. "I started sharp from the baseline and tried to put pressure from the beginning," Khachanov remarked after the match. "I was able to break him in the first game and take the lead... He wanted to play and I respect that."
Analyzing Khachanov's Current Form
Khachanov's ability to maintain his momentum has been key to his recent success. When asked about his form, he said, "I try not to think about it, to be honest. When you're feeling the rhythm and the momentum, you just want to continue enjoying the moment and playing the same way, with just slight changes in tactics for different opponents."
This performance marks Khachanov's fifth appearance in an ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, adding to his previous title in Paris back in 2018. The victory was particularly noteworthy, considering he had not won against Dimitrov in their last four meetings, including a close match in Marseille earlier this year.
Match Stats and Highlights
Dimitrov struggled significantly on his serve, managing only 48% of first serves in play and winning just six out of 26 points on second serves. On the other hand, Khachanov faced no break points and made just 12 unforced errors compared to Dimitrov's 28, demonstrating a stark contrast in performance under pressure.
In the upcoming semi-finals, Khachanov will face Ugo Humbert, who reached his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final after defeating Australian Jordan Thompson 6-2, 7-6(4).
Khachanov's impressive performance in Paris has not only solidified his form but also showcased the competitive nature of this year's ATP season, as he continues to push for more significant achievements on the tour.
