Russia's Karen Khachanov celebrates with the trophy after winning
the final against Serbia's Novak Djokovic - ATP 1000 - Paris Masters -
AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France - November 4, 2018. (Photo: Reuters)
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The 22-year-old Russian has for some time been seen as one of the
rising young talents of the sport but few could have envisaged his demolition
of the Serbian superstar, who was on a three-month, 22-match winning streak.
Djokovic was expected to celebrate his return to world number one
on Monday with a record-extending fifth Paris title but he went down in one
hour 37 minutes amid a hail of 31 crushing winners from the Muscovite’s racket.
"To finish my season like this is a dream,” Khachanov told the
crowd in the Bercy arena, explaining that Djokovic had always been an
inspiration to him.
He even took a leaf out of the Serb’s book of celebrations by
bending down to kiss the Centre Court. "Maybe I’m not crying, but still I’m
really happy,” he told reporters later.
Khachanov, a strapping 1.98-metre huge hitter with surprisingly
fleet movement around the court for such a big man, took advantage of Djokovic
being a little under the weather after a week struggling with flu-like
symptoms.
Yet even though the Serb admitted he had not recovered physically
after his epic three-hour win over Roger Federer in Saturday’s semi-final, he
had nothing but praise for the outstanding quality of Khachanov’s attacking
game.
"All credit to Karen, he did a great job today. He deserves the
trophy,” Djokovic told the crowd.
Earning his fourth straight win over a top-10 player this week,
Khachanov, whose muscular game resembles that of his childhood hero Marat
Safin, a Russian three-times winner in Paris, picked up the biggest title of
his burgeoning career.
It was his third triumph of the year, all on indoor hard courts,
and will rocket Khachanov from 18th in the world to a career-high 11th on
Monday.
Even better news for a sport always on the lookout for the next
bright young thing to challenge the established order of Djokovic, Federer and
Rafa Nadal, Khachanov showed why he has the weapons and temperament to offer
them a real threat.
"I’m sure we’ll see a lot of great games from him in the future,”
conceded Djokovic.
What was most impressive about Khachanov’s victory was the manner
in which he bullied Djokovic around the court with the depth and booming
accuracy of his groundstrokes and his confidence in his ventures to the net.
The only previous time they had met, Djokovic crushed the Russian
in straight sets at Wimbledon and, briefly, it seemed as if the same fate could
await Khachanov again as he was out-rallied to go 3-1 down in the opening set.
Instead, up against a great champion looking for a fourth
consecutive tournament win, following his victories at the Cincinnati Masters,
the US Open and the Shanghai Masters, the chess-loving Russian changed his
strategy.
"After that, my intensity (changed), I stepped in more inside the
court, started to move him and maybe he didn’t expect that,” said Khachanov,
who did not give up another break point in the rest of the match with his pinpoint,
heavy serving.
Constantly keeping the master of defence on the back foot, he
converted a decisive break point at 5-5 with an irretrievable backhand at full
stretch before taking the set in 57 minutes.
Then, with Djokovic clearly breathing harder, he earned the
decisive break to go 2-1 up in the second set after the Serbian pushed a
weary-looking backhand into the net.
Yet Djokovic did not sound too dismayed, saying he hoped to be
physically 100% for the ATP Tour finals which start in London next Sunday.
Source: NDO
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