The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Rafael Nadal
Young Russian gives Scot cause for concern as he bids for place in last eight
continued his relentless march through his section of the draw at the French Open tennis tournament yesterday with a 6-1 6-2 6-2 fourth round victory over 17th seed Roberto Bautista Agut at Roland Garros.
Andy Murray will measure himself against one of the best of the next generation in the fourth round of the French Open.
The world no 1 might have expected to play John Isner in a repeat of last year’s last-16 clash, but instead will face 21-yearold Russian Karen Khachanov.
Since Murray and Novak Djokovic rose to the top of the game more than a decade ago, the wait has gone on for a new generation to really make its mark.
The signs are that the time has finally arrived, with 20-year-old Alexander Zverev breaking into the top 10 and the likes of Nick Kyrgios, Borna Coric and now Khachanov rising up the ranks.
Murray said of the Russian: “I have never played a match against him, but I practised with him before he got on to the tour when he was like 350 (in the rankings), and he was really good. Big, strong guy. Generates a lot of power. He’s also got a big serve.”
Khachanov, born in Moscow but based in Barcelona, is through to the last 16 at a slam for the first time.
After beating Tomas Berdych in round two, he bounced back well from losing the third set to Isner to win 7-6 (7/1) 6-3 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (7/3) in a match carried over from Saturday evening.
Standing 6ft 6in and with a swagger to match, Khachanov is part of a new breed of very tall but athletic players and is looking forward to having a crack at the Scot.
He said: “I think that is what we are looking for, to play on the big arenas like here, centre court, and to play against the world no 1. I’m really looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a good match and good experience for me. I’m in the fourth round, and I will try to prepare and to do my best.”
A Real Madrid fan, Khachanov prepared for the resumption of his match against Isner by watching the Champions League final and is also a keen chess player.
“When I was young, like from 10 to 12, I was having chess classes,” he said.
“So I like to play chess in my free time. It’s one of my hobbies. I think it helps maybe.”
The ATP is holding an end-of-season Next Gen tournament for the first time in November as a showcase for the best eight players aged under 21.
Zverev looks uncatchable in first place and Khachanov, who sits sixth, has been inspired by the German’s achievements.
He said: “I already congratulated him with past results. I think it motivates us to work even harder. I’m seeing it in the other young guys.
“We are looking to each other and support each other. It helps us, gives us extra motivation and encourages us.”
While Khachanov is through to the last 16 at a slam for the first time, it is seven years and 25 tournaments since Murray failed to at least make the fourth round.
His expectations on arriving in Paris were rather different to normal after a poor run of form on the clay, but Murray looked much more like his usual self in a straight-sets win over Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday.
The 30-year-old said: “I believe in myself, so even when things aren’t going well, I believe I can turn it around.
“It’s not easy but, if you do the right things in practice and trust it, it’s going to come. The five-set format has definitely helped, so I have maybe not been as anxious going into some of the matches, because I know there is some time to turn it around.
“But mentally I feel pretty good just now. I’m working things out while I’m playing the matches, and that’s a really, really important part of my game.”
Rafael Nadal meanwhile produced another dominant display to race into his 11th quarter-final at Roland Garros.
The title favourite maintained his record of never having lost to another Spaniard in Paris with a 6-1 6-2 6-2 victory over 17th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
Nadal, who lost just one game in beating Nikoloz Basilashvili in round
three, has dropped only 20 games in the tournament so far. That is one more than his best-ever record over four rounds, set here in 2012.
Nadal, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Saturday, has looked supremely confident with his forehand this tournament and it was the same again. He hit 31 winners in the match compared to just 12 for Bautista Agut and clinched victory after an hour and 50 minutes.
Eighth seed Kei Nishikori looked in trouble against young Korean Chung Hyeon when rain stopped play on Saturday, but recovered to win in five sets.
Nishikori had been two sets up but Chung fought back and was 3-0 up in the fourth when play was called off.
The 21-year-old went on to win that set to love but Nishikori hit back to triumph 7-5 6-4 6-7 (4/7) 0-6 6-4 and next meets Fernando Verdasco.
Novak Djokovic avoided more drama with a straight-sets win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas to reach the quarterfinals.
After fighting back from two sets to one down to beat Diego Schwartzman in the third round, the defending champion was no doubt hoping for an easier evening yesterday.
Things did not begin promisingly, but after twice fighting back from a break down in the opening set he pulled away to win 7-6 (7/5) 6-1 6-3.
This was Djokovic’s first match at the tournament without Andre Agassi, whose stay was only ever intended to be a short one.
The Serbian moves through to a muchanticipated last eight clash with sixth seed Dominic Thiem.