MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

March 31, 2023

Karen Khachanov

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/K. Khachanov

7-6, 3-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Bad luck, Karen. Another strong showing for you this year. What do you think made the difference in the third set against Daniil today?

KAREN KHACHANOV: To be honest with you, I think it was really one of the greatest matches lately also I felt from the beginning till the end in terms of level, in terms of speed, you know, intensity, attitude, everything, you know, from the beginning till the end.

To be honest, I think it was just one-game difference in terms of when the balls were new. He broke me. The same would happen in the second set. In the first set we broke each other once, so it was really, really close, equal match.

I don't know. I must say it's maybe a little bit unlucky in a way, but of course he deserves totally to win. You know, I think both of us really today showed our best. We fought hard. I mean, we gave good match for the crowd.

In a way, it's a pity that I lost, but I'm happy and proud of myself the way the things are right now, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. High-quality match. I look at numbers, 53 winners to 11 unforced errors. I can't imagine you ever losing a match with those stats. Talk about that and also just talk about Medvedev's defense is just ridiculous.

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, I mean, like I said before, you know, those stats, they speak by themselves, you know. Maybe I could play even better, I don't know (smiling).

But, I mean, it's tough to ask for more when you already doing well in this case, you know. I think against maybe the rest 97 players or more, I mean, except maybe Alcaraz, Novak, Daniil, the way they defend, it would be a winner already, you know, after three, four shots, you know, with the speed that I really felt this week lately, you know, with my forehand, when I dominate and when I really go through and attack.

Yeah, everybody has been speaking about him. He's really different type of player, to be honest. He showed that he developed his style of play, and it's very successful. You know, he keeps doing the things consistently, and that's who he is. That's the way he plays. You need to find a way how to beat him or to play good.

So I tried today and. You know, I was really close. That's it.

Q. Karen, you got one piece of good news today, is that you're going to be able to play Wimbledon. Can you describe where you were when you found out, what were your feelings about it, how you found out? Did you know ahead of time?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Just now from you (smiling).

Q. Really?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah. No, I didn't follow -- I mean, because I was playing at 1:00, so at what time was with the statement? I don't know.

Q. About 7:00 in the morning.

KAREN KHACHANOV: Ah, at 7:00 in the morning. Okay. I don't know. But I didn't check the news, to be honest. I try to be away from phone, away from the news before the match, especially, to be focused, not to read, and that's basically why you just told me.

Q. I'm glad to give you good news.

KAREN KHACHANOV: Great news, thank you. (Smiling.)

Q. I mean, I remember we spoke last year and you were pretty annoyed about it. It's obviously a relief? Is it something that's been on your mind?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I mean, listen, all of the Russian and Belarusian players, we said before that we really would like to play there. You know, I played quarterfinals, I'm in the Last 8 Club, and it's really great and special event in tennis history.

That's why I'm really happy that you shared this news with me and that we will be able to play this year to compete, yeah.

Q. Have you already decided what your schedule would be as far as the grass events are concerned? If you have, could this change your mind in case you were going to Germany or Halle? Would you go to Queen's and then Wimbledon? What would be the situation with that?

KAREN KHACHANOV: To be honest with you, I always played Halle, so I don't know yet. I didn't speak with my team about it, you know, which tournament, because first of all, we were depending on the statement from LTA obviously and for the whole grass court season in England.

You know, I always played Halle, and then week of practice, then playing Wimbledon. Unless I lose early in Halle, I was playing Mallorca, I think, before. One time I played. I wanted to play a couple of matches more.

We will speak now, I think. We didn't decide yet actually if I would play Queen's or Halle. So it's a topic to discuss now for us, for the team.

Q. Going back to the Wimbledon thing, I think from what I understand from their statement it's players can play but they have to agree to neutrality or not making statements about supporting the war. Also not having sponsorship from Russian state entities. Does that mean under those circumstances are you able to play Wimbledon then?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I mean, that's what you said, all right. I guess we just follow the rules. I think this is what we are doing now, right? There is neutrality? There is no flag since last year end of February?

So basically we just keep doing the same like all other tournaments, I think. It's nothing different, you know. I don't have sponsorships now in Russia, so it is what it is.

Q. We can say that the first quarter of the season is over now. You had some great results in Australia, and now some good showings against the top-10 players as well. How would you kind of judge or look back on your first quarter of 2023?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, definitely positive. You know, like always, you know, I think it's always can be better, right? You can win every tournament.

Look, Daniil from February he's on a great run. You always can do better. But it's always can be worse if I compare with the previous years, so I'm really in a good place. You know, the most important is just to stay healthy because I had some issues also, you know, from Australia. That's why I didn't play Rotterdam, Marseilles, so I had kind of skipped a couple of tournaments. So again I had to start, you know, and to find my form.

So I'm really happy now it's really close to the clay, and just thinking about now start to slide in a couple of days. I'm already getting cramping. I'm cramping already (smiling).

But I get it. It is what it is. Alcaraz last year also won here. It was tough for him to play Monte-Carlo, but then he played well in Barcelona, Madrid, everything else. You cannot choose the schedule sometimes. You just have to adjust, adapt. So I will definitely rest couple of days, go back home, and we will start preparing for clay.

You know, it's a surface that I like, a surface that I play well also. I just looking forward, yeah, to continue staying healthy most importantly. Motivation is there. Tennis is there. I just hope continue having good runs.