QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

February 19, 2024

Karen Khachanov

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the conditions today? Does it take some getting used to when you come here?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Getting what?

Q. Getting used to these conditions?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, definitely. You know, I think every tournament has different conditions. You know, I live in Dubai, so in Middle East, you know, it's let's say pretty similar weather, climate, right? So in this case, you know, I was coming from last week, trained there outdoors.

But I think here it can be sometimes really windy. You don't know which way the wind blows. You know, it's a little bit becomes much more difficult to control the ball, to play, let's say, your best tennis. I think you need to adapt and to adjust to that.

The courts itself, they look pretty nice, pretty, let's say, middle speed, you know, after the women's tournament.

I came couple of days ago, so today we had a doubles match, and as soon as we play and practice more and more, I think to try to get used to and then get ready for the singles.

Q. I also wanted to ask you about the ATP's top 10. As of this week, there isn't a single-handed backhand in the top 10. Does that surprise you? Is it something you expected?

KAREN KHACHANOV: To be honest, I didn't even think about it. (Smiling.) Everything happens for the first time, you know. It's been quite a few years that there were one-handed backhand players in the top 10, but I think nowadays is just reality and it is what it is.

So I think sooner or later, somebody will be back to top 10 also with one-handed backhand. That's it. There is nothing to overthink, I would say (smiling).

Q. I also wanted to ask you about your generation of players. You have one Grand Slam title with Daniil winning that, whereas the younger lot of Sinner and Alcaraz and Rune, they have three already. How do you think they are different from your generation of players? Is it the mindset, or...

KAREN KHACHANOV: It's a little bit of everything. You know, mindset definitely, the skills, the ability of doing some things. It's like a puzzle. You know, it's not just one thing or the other one they don't have or we have.

I would say our generation, it's been there already for quite a few years, you know, also from young age, but in, let's say 10, 20, 30 years, two guys or three guys like them coming and they show a great level from younger age.

So is just, I don't know, in a way maybe evolution of tennis, but at the same time, when you look back and there were so many players winning slams with 16, 17, right, before our generation, before Novak, Roger, Rafa, and then these three guys came and took over for the next 20 years winning all the slams almost.

So, you know, it's just with Andy also being there, with Wawrinka, you know, some guys, Del Potro, Dominic, they won, Cilic, you know.

Then when Daniil and now these younger guys, Alcaraz and Sinner, they won. I think it will be interesting, really, for the next, from now on for the next years. Let's see who will take over, how the competition between generations will be, you know, for the next years to come.

Q. Would you say they have somehow leveled the playing field for everybody, not just for their own generation, but for all of you guys when you go into bigger tournaments? Is there greater belief or has that somehow changed a little bit, would you think?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I would say the difference of the level is not that huge, you know, the difference. For example, when you go out to play, or I went to go out to play against Novak, Rafa, and Roger, I had close matches and I won a match against Novak in the finals, actually. But, you know, I did it once.

So here, when you go out to play against them, you know that, okay, they play great, but you have chances, you know. It's not like you feel in the tough moments -- yeah, they are better, and let's say they beat me also a couple of times, but I beat Sinner also a couple of times.

But against Rafa, Roger, and Novak, you feel, let's say, a little different pressure and tension on the court, you know. You feel like they have answer almost on everything. I'm not saying that Alcaraz or Sinner they don't have it. They do play unbelievable also. But I think that this difference of the level is not that huge.