THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2021

Karen Khachanov

Press Conference

K. KHACHANOV/S. Korda

3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 10-8

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. That fifth set was pretty crazy. There were 13 breaks of serve, which is a Wimbledon record for most in a set. How do you explain what was happening there? You're two big guys with good serves, and there was almost no holding happening for a long time there.

KAREN KHACHANOV: At least we made some record, you know, in some ways (smiling). Yeah, I would say it's not common, but it is what it is with the nerves. You know, when basically you break a couple of times before fifth set, and then you have, yeah, 13 breaks, I don't know, it's tough to explain.

But, I mean, on the other side it's easy to explain. When you are returning, let's say, better, you start to read the serves better, and then in play, in the rallies, both of us were more stressed, more tight. This is obvious. I mean, you don't need to be hiding that.

At the end, the one who deal better win the match. It was more about this rather than, okay, who plays better, who plays bigger. At the end, these important moments, this is where it counts.

I think this year I had very close matches like this, and for me, it's one of the most important wins, I would say, during the year, this one, because at the end, to pull it off, this is where it counts. The most important is to win, doesn't matter how. I'm super happy about it.

Q. In your next match you play a player that you played once before in the Davis Cup. What's your memory of that match? What are your expectations in terms of the challenge that Denis gives you on the grass courts here and now?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Well, Denis, yeah, very good player. Promising, I would say. Younger than me. And we played once in Davis Cup. The conditions were different, was with the altitude. The balls, I mean, were going very fast because he's also big hitter. He likes to go for the shots.

You know, this year in quarantine in Australia we practiced two weeks, so I would say we know each other pretty well right now (smiling).

So I know what to expect. I will try to get ready. You know, it will be a different trajectory of the balls because he's lefty. Once you're in quarterfinals, expectations goes even higher. Obviously both of us will try to prepare well, and hopefully it will be a good match and the better player wins.

Q. How would you describe the differences in your styles and the similarities?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I mean, difference, I would say still the grip on the forehand. You know, I have a kind of more, I would say, acceleration and spin. He has more flatter shots through. You know, he goes more through.

Also, he has one-handed backhand. Obviously is different than mine. I have two-hands backhand. He's lefty. I would say maybe he's even a better mover than me on the baseline, but, you know, he's a little bit shorter than me.

You know, serve, both of us, we serve big. Return pretty similar. Yeah, like I said, will be interesting encounter, yeah.

Q. Having spent time with Denis in Australia, how would you describe him, sort of personality to be around? How did you end up picking him as your one guy for that experience?

KAREN KHACHANOV: You know, he's very cool guy. He speaks Russian. We had a couple of discussions about, I don't know, the tour, the tennis with him and his mom. He's very friendly. You know, his mood, kind of relaxed mood.

Yeah, I love watching him play. We practiced a lot, like I said, during these two weeks. We played only once, so it will be the second match.

Yeah, really looking forward to it. But now I don't want to think about Denis, you know.

Q. Have you listened to much of Denis' music?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, yeah, it's true. I think last week we were watching the match in Mallorca, Moutet was playing against another, I think Lloyd Harris, and I was sitting with my wife, with Veronika, and I told her, You know that he's a rapper, you know?

She said, Oh, really?

I said, Yeah, they have remix with Denis. We were listening to that. It was a fun one, yeah.

Q. If you were going to make music, what would it be about?

KAREN KHACHANOV: If I would do?

Q. Yeah.

KAREN KHACHANOV: I mean, I'm so-so singer, to be honest. But I would go for rap, also rapper in the music. I love it also.

Q. The younger generation of guys, obviously there is still not many Grand Slams titles from people of your generation yet. There is Thiem. But what do you see as the charge or energy guys are having? You're playing another young guy in Denis. Do you think there is time for change and new people, or is there still a long way to go?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Well, I mean, for sure the momentum is there. At the end of the day, if we look at the past slams, I mean, look, Daniil was in two finals, Sascha was in his first final, Stefanos was in the final. Okay, they didn't get the wins, but, you know, I would say once you get there, I mean, I think you know the way back.

So for sure I would say sooner or later I think it will happen. Of course Novak is, you know, right now he's the most dangerous contender, but still, you know, I think at the end of the day, sooner or later, somebody will pull it off, you know.

Q. Do you think it can happen at this tournament?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I mean, at the end of the day, obviously can happen. Look, okay, we're in quarterfinals. You know, in the other part of the draw are other younger guys. Okay, Roger is still there from the older generation, but at the end of the day, all the other players, Berrettini is there, all the other players are our generation. Let's see what happens.