Karen Khachanov, the Russian tennis star, recently made a bold prediction about his future in the sport. He had stated that he could be a “dark horse” even being ranked 15 or 20 in the world. At the time, many dismissed his statement as nothing more than bravado, but it turns out, Khachanov was right on the money.
In the early stages of the 2023 tennis season, Khachanov has already begun to make good on his promise. With a string of impressive performances, fans have seen him climb the ranks. He has put himself in contention for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles- the Australian Open.
Karen Khachanov makes his prediction come true at the 2023 Australian Open
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Khachanov’s journey to the top of the tennis world has been anything but easy. Despite enjoying early success, Khachanov struggled to make his mark on the highest level, and it wasn’t until his early twenties that he began to establish himself as a player to watch out on the Tour.
In the viral Instagram video shared by the ATP Tour’s official account, the Russian said, “Sometimes I mean, you can be the dark horse even being I don’t know 15 or 20 in the world, right? So I would say myself, I’ll put it in that list.”
It was during this time that Khachanov began to make a name for himself as a “dark horse” in the sport. Despite being ranked outside the top 20, he consistently managed to defeat higher-ranked players and make deep runs in tournaments. This earned him a reputation as a player who could never be counted out, no matter the odds.
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But despite his success, Khachanov still had his eyes set on the sport’s biggest prize: a Grand Slam title. And it was at last year’s US Open that he finally made his breakthrough. In a tournament filled with upsets and surprises, Khachanov managed to navigate his way to the semifinals, where he lost against Casper Ruud.
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He has followed that impressive run with another semifinal appearance in this year’s opening Grand Slam tournament in Australia. Khachanov’s rise serves as a reminder that anything is possible if you’re willing to put in the work.
Khachanov’s incredible run saw another promising star’s unfortunate withdrawal
Khachanov has reached back-to-back Grand Slam semi-finals. He had also made it to this stage at the 2022 US Open. He will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round of the Australian Open. During his match with Korda, Khachanov was leading 7-6(5) 6-3 3-0 when Korda was forced to retire due to an injury.
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This injury greatly affected Korda’s shot making ability during the match, despite his efforts to continue playing. Khachanov’s confidence grew as a result of Korda’s setback, and the match’s momentum shifted in his favor. Share your thoughts about the tennis ace in your comments below.
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