Russian-Armenian tennis player Karen Khachanov advanced to the quarterfinals of the ATP-500 tournament in Doha, Qatar, after defeating Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics (ATP No. 61) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the Round of 16.
The 17th-ranked Khachanov secured his place among the final eight after a 2-hour, 1-minute battle and will now face world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who advanced with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Valentin Royer.
Khachanov’s quarterfinal run delivers valuable ATP ranking points and keeps him firmly in contention for the title at the $2.8 million Doha event. The matchup against Alcaraz presents a major test, as Khachanov has lost all five of their previous encounters, giving him another opportunity to change the story.
In the Round of 16 clash with Fucsovics, Khachanov started strong, controlling the opening set with a powerful serve and aggressive return game. Fucsovics raised his level in the second set, extending rallies and leveling the match. In the decisive set, Khachanov stayed composed in key moments, secured a crucial break, and closed out the win.
Khachanov launched his Doha campaign with a dramatic comeback victory in the previous round. After dropping the first set 1-6 to Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki (ATP No. 117), Khachanov flipped the match by taking the second set 6-3 before sealing the decider 6-4 to advance. His performance in Doha has highlighted his resilience, bouncing back from early adversity and grinding through two consecutive three-set battles to reach the quarterfinal stage.
All eyes now turn to Khachanov’s quarterfinal showdown with Alcaraz as he looks to extend his run in Doha and continue his pursuit of the title.
