Murray’s next opponent is coming out of the shadows

SO, WHO IS KAREN KHACHANOV?

A 21-year-old Russian who was outside the top 100 this time last year but will now break into the top 50. Born in Moscow, he won his first ATP title in Chengdu, China in 2016.

WHAT KIND OF PLAYER IS HE?

He is 6ft 6in, 13st 12lb and clobbers the ball off forehand and backhand. He also has a superb serve, and has not been broken once in his last two matches here. His favourite shot is the double-handed backhand down the line.

WHEN DID HE START PLAYING?

At the age of three, when his parents saw an advert in his kindergarten for a local tennis club. At 15 Karen moved to Croatia to work with Goran Ivanisevic’s ex-coach. For the last three years he has trained out of Barcelona and is coached by Galo Blanco, who used to mentor Milos Raonic.

DOES HE HAVE SPORTING GENES?

His father was a high-standard volleyball player and his mother was a keen amateur athlete who dabbled in tennis. Khachanov — unsurprisingly — played nationallevel basketball while at school.

WHO HAS HE BEATEN SO FAR?

After seeing off qualifier Nicolas Jarry in the first round, Khachanov has claimed two big scalps. He beat No13 seed and former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych in the second round and No21 seed John Isner yesterday.