AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 27, 2023

Karen Khachanov

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/K. Khachanov

7-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Karen, bad luck for today. You must be proud of your run to the semifinals, second consecutive semifinals in a Grand Slam, and the way you came back from two sets to love down to force a fourth set. Overall thoughts on the tournament for you?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Definitely. Like you say, it's always a mixed feelings when you finish the major especially or any other tournament at the further stage.

Obviously I'm super happy, super proud on the lately results. Like you mentioned, second consecutive semifinals. But, yeah, I fought hard. I was losing actually in the third set. He was serving for the match. He had two match points. I never give up.

But, yeah, I think it was very close, very good-level match. He took over in some important moments, some important points. He got the win, so simple as that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I noticed as you were walking off the court you put your bags down and took a moment. What was going through your head at that moment?

KAREN KHACHANOV: No, because I felt really during the tournament a lot of fans. I had some matches on John Cain. Actually the fans were cheering more for my opponents. Then I think last match on Rod Laver and this one, they were really kind of almost equal. They gave me so much love.

I just wanted to appreciate this moment to some Russian fans, to my Armenian fans, and people who came to support with the flags.

Just felt, yeah, really great support out there.

Q. How much did it mean to have the Armenian flags in the crowd? That must be very special to have people who recognize you're half Armenian, I think I'm right in saying?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, you're right. It definitely feels, yeah, from the bottom of my heart, I felt really, really kind of - how to say, I don't know in English the word...

Q. What's the word in Russian?

KAREN KHACHANOV: No, I mean...

Q. Grateful?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I mean in a way. Let's put it that way. Grateful for them to cheer, to support, to come over. And also Russian fans, they were not allowed to bring any flags, Belarusian as well. But I heard them as well. There were many Russians as well screaming and supporting me all the way.

Just really happy to see everybody on that court and to give me love all the way until the end.

Q. Two Grand Slam semifinals in a row. Do you feel you're getting closer to a title? What have you taken, learnt from the experiences of these last two semifinals that you will take going forward now?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Always you need to take some lessons, yeah, to take something, some experience, to move forward, to improve, to think what did you miss, let's say, or it was just that the opponent played, let's say, better. Maybe in some situations I could do better. It's always like this. Tennis is always, like any other sport, there is no draw unfortunately in our sport. One guy has to win and to go through.

I would say I did it second time in a row, consecutive semifinals. I would definitely go with my head high. Again, rest couple of days, think with my team for next schedule, again to have a team meeting to discuss those particular situations and moments on what we need to work.

Hopefully I keep believing that I can pass this step next time, if I am in this situation, hopefully. That's it.

Q. You mentioned before that Tsitsipas just won those important points at the important times. Will you watch the final on Sunday thinking, I should be here, or how do you respond?

KAREN KHACHANOV: No, if I am in, let's say, the same moment, time zone, I will definitely be with my family. I didn't see them for five weeks. Maybe I will watch the final, yeah. Why not?

At the end of the day, I love sport, I love this sport. I will watch it probably, yeah, to see, first of all, who wins, Novak or Tommy Paul, and then how this guy will approach him. It will be interesting for me to see it in a way.

Q. Without wanting to guess who is going to win this evening, if it's Novak, you're someone who has beaten Novak once. I wonder what you think Stefanos can do to try to beat Novak?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I think Stefanos also beat him, right, one or two times, I don't remember, to be honest with you.

Q. Yeah.

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, if Novak wins, first of all, let's see the match. Obviously in a Grand Slam I think nobody from that generation didn't beat him, except Daniil I think in the US Open final. Maybe Stefanos has to call to Daniil to ask him what he did that day (smiling). I don't know if that's going to happen, but you can advise him once he comes, yeah (laughter).