US OPEN

September 7, 2022

Karen Khachanov

Press Conference

K. KHACHANOV/N. Kyrgios

7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on your performance tonight.

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, we stayed a little bit less than in Australia when we played in 2020.

To be honest, yeah, from the beginning till the end, great performance - at least I will talk about myself, from my side. I stayed there. I waited for my chances. I created them, as well.

I'm super happy, super proud that I could finish the match, I could take it. Serving for the match, never easy. Yeah, just super happy to do this step forward to make my first semifinal.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Playing in the middle of the match, what did it feel like with the crowd? Was there any particular point that turned things around?

KAREN KHACHANOV: No, not really. I think first set and a half we had both a lot of advantage on our serves. We didn't make so many returns in play, so there were not so many rallies. It was difficult to find the rhythm, I would say.

Later on I think we started to change the position, we started to return more the balls inside. Obviously we had more rallies. The match kind of became more and more active, you know?

I think there was not really turning point. I think just first set I broke him, second set I lost my serve, then just continue like that, so...

No, not really turning point, I would say.

Q. You broke early in the fifth set, then he put you under a lot of pressure. How tough was it to hold your nerve?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, exactly, super tough. I saw yesterday Marin Cilic, he was up a break in the fifth set, then lost the match. It's not the only match that it happened.

Especially when you break early, you need to hold your serve during the whole set. But I saw he was little bit irritated, little bit frustrated in that moment. I was really happy to take those chances. I faced a couple of break points I think in the middle of that set. I served well. Yeah, just finished the match.

Q. What did you make of the atmosphere? A rowdy crowd. Given that, how does that add to your satisfaction that you stayed so focused?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, I was prepared. I was expecting that the crowd would be more for him, that he was the favorite in their eyes. I don't get upset on that.

I played Rafa in 2018. I mean, was pretty similar thing (smiling). I knew what to expect. I knew what I have to do, how focused I have to stay. Just to deliver a good match. That's what I did basically.

Q. You just mentioned the frustration. What is it like when you see your opponent smashing their racquets...

KAREN KHACHANOV: I mean, it's painful. I think it hurts for him or it would be the same for me if I would lose that match. It's never easy to lose five sets because you give your best, you give your self best throughout the whole match, then it's never easy to accept the defeat.

To be honest, I didn't look at him after we shaked hands. I saw after the racquets were flying. But I feel the pain for him, yeah.

Q. When Rafa went out yesterday, does that impact you mentally at all? Did it feel like there was a roadblock out of the way?

KAREN KHACHANOV: No, to be honest. Rafa was in the down part of the draw. First to see Rafa here, to win all his matches, I had to win all mine. It's still a long way to meet him in the final potentially.

I would say not really. Since he was out, I would say it was quite open for all the guys because everybody kind of see that there is opportunity to take the trophy.

I would say maybe it even increased the level for everyone.

Q. On the court you said, I did it, finally made a semifinal. How much were you anticipating and desperate to make this breakthrough?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, it's like one more step forward. I'm really, really happy I could do it. Also I had to face and to beat Nick, who is playing one of the best tennis again.

It obviously was a tough match to kind of approach before. That's why. I just did it. I did the step forward. I made my first semifinal, so it's pretty simple in my head. I'm just really happy.