Khachanov destroys Thiem to make Paris Masters final
IN THE ZONE Russian in stunning form against world No 8; moves a step closer to biggest career title
PARIS: Karen Khachanov showed why he is one of the finest young talents in tennis as he powered into the final of the Paris Masters with a thunderous 6-4, 6-1 victory over Dominic Thiem on Saturday.
The 22-year-old, 6ft 6in Russian, already the owner of two indoor hard court titles this year, moved one step away from the biggest title of his career at the Bercy indoor arena, crushing his Austrian friend in 70 one-sided minutes.
Khachanov will now play his first Masters 1000 final on Sunday against the winner of the blockbuster second semi-final between Novak Djokovic, who will be back to world number one on Monday, and Roger Federer, who is seeking a 100th career title.
“It was one of my best matches, and what I’m happy about is that I was increasing my level, which shows that I’m becoming a better player,” Khachanov said.
The 18th ranked Muscovite overpowered a third top-10 player in successive days, having hammered Alexander Zverev in the quarters and negotiated John Isner’s huge serves in the last-16.
Thiem, the world number eight who on Friday had booked his place in the ATP Finals, was out of sorts and seemed discomfited from the start by the depth and power of the groundstrokes he has seen so often from his regular practice partner.
Remarkably, the Austrian saw his powerful serve broken five times in a row by Khachanov at the end of the first set and throughout a surprisingly onesided second.
“It was really intense the first couple of games and at 4-4, when there was more pressure coming, I broke him and took the lead,” said Khachanov.
Asked about the great player that he will meet in the final, he smiled and said: “I’m going to watch (Federer-djokovic) definitely and any scenario is good for me.”
It was a hugely disappointing day for 25-year-old Thiem, who had reached the French Open final in Paris in June but who is still searching for the first Masters title his talent merits.
NOVAK IN TOP FORM
Late on Friday, Novak Djokovic overcame nagging flu and a formidable examination from Marin Cilic, having to come from a set down to forge into the Paris Masters semi-finals with racquetsmashing intensity and extend his winning streak to 21 matches
It was really intense the first couple of games and at 44, when there was more pressure coming, I broke him and took the lead.
KAREN KHACHANOV, After beating Thiem and entering the final
on Friday.
Djokovic faces Roger Federer in last four after the Swiss great defeated Kei Nishikori comfortably 6-4, 6-4 to move a step nearer to winning his 100th career title.
Djokovic had his personal best winning sequence of 30 consecutive sets ended as Cilic played almost flawlessly aggressive tennis to draw first blood in a magnificent duel. Yet it only prompted Djokovic to increase his focus and produce some supreme play to turn the tide and prevail 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
It was all the more remarkable as the Serb revealed afterwards that he was still feeling under the weather. “I’m still struggling. It’s kind of a flu. But it’s not easy to perform every single day, the energy levels are not as high,” he told reporters.
“I try to manage the situation but I’ve had this particular case before so I hope I can progress day by day.”
INTENSE MOOD
The Serb was in such an intense mood that even when he was fighting back in the second set, leading 5-2, he screamed at his team, demanding to know why he had not received vitamin tablets.
After being broken to go 2-1 down in the final set, Djokovic smashed his racquet, accepted the code violation and steamed with anger in his seat before immediately breaking back.
When in more peril at break point down at 3-3, he delivered an amazing game-saving backhand at full stretch, which perhaps helped break Cilic’s spirit as he squandered the next game before succumbing in two hours and 11 minutes.
Federer, in stark contrast, was hardly stretched in despatching Nishikori, beating the Japanese for a sixth straight time while not dropping serve. “I know Novak’s on a hot streak so I think it’s going to be tough. But nevertheless I think I’ve got nothing to lose,” Federer said on Friday.
The day’s action in Paris ensured that Cilic and Thiem are now guaranteed the last two of eight places on offer for the ATP Finals in London this month.