QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

February 23, 2024

Karen Khachanov

Press Conference

K. KHACHANOV/A. Popyrin

7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. In the last week maybe you hadn't had the best of preparation with the withdrawals and things like that. Also, the doubles match you did not play. So how did you prepare better for this match, and do you think you will be prepared even better for the final?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I mean, it's a, let's say, rhetorical question in a way, because you never know what's better, to have tough matches and then you are spending more energy and, let's say, in play but you are more tired at the same time.

Some things we cannot control, right? So some things you need to adjust. I think with the experience and everything, I'm getting it better.

So, you know, yesterday, yeah, it was a retirement from Emil, and I took it also in a way that, okay, we didn't play doubles and I will just prepare.

You know, a normal day, let's say if it would be finishing on Sunday, the tournament, let's say Thursday I would take a practice one hour. So at the end I did the same. I did gym, I did 30 minutes' warmup, 15 minutes' match, basically it's more or less the same.

For the final, today I had a very, let's say, competitive match. We played almost two hours. The first set was very emotional, mental, you know, and at the same time very tough.

So I'm happy I went through. It was very important to win this tiebreak, and I think that lifted me in the second set much more.

Q. You were injured last summer and you spent some time in Belgrade and Montenegro with Djokovic, I guess, or with Janko?

KAREN KHACHANOV: No, I was passing by through Belgrade for a couple of days but not in Montenegro, no. Yeah.

Q. Practice?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I was just starting to practice, you know. I was there seeing Janko, and yeah, I was just passing by from Europe for a couple of days before going to U.S.

I saw part of my team there also. You know, my physio was there in Belgrade, so yeah, it was common just to come. I think four days I was just basically in Belgrade. Kind of doing rehab and at the same time a little bit of training. It was just the beginning after an injury, yeah.

Q. So you're maybe one game away from lifting your first trophy here in Doha. How will you prepare the final of tomorrow either against Gael or Mensik?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I will prepare the same yay. I have been in this position, let's say. I have won titles, have played finals.

I will prepare mentally for the same way either opponent. The only difference will be maybe in a way how you play against one guy or how you play against the other. But the same time, you know, the final game is always two, let's say, best players of this week, you know, playing the one final match.

I think it's not much to think about. It's just, you know, to go out there and try to show my tennis, you know, and whoever is better, you know, is going to win. That's it. Not to complicate too much, you know.

Q. Can you talk a little about Mensik, please. Have you watched him play before?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Before, no. I heard about him I think in US Open first time I saw him, you know, and then in Australia. I think he beat Shapovalov, if I'm correct, in the first round. And basically here.

I saw some games, some matches, I think against Murray, against Andrey the end of the match and also in the beginning. Literally now I will watch a little bit, and then, you know, whoever wins, you know, speak with my coach about tomorrow, yeah.

Q. When you have to play someone young and who you probably have never watched or seen much of before, how do you prepare to play a player like that, especially given that when they are young they probably would have watched you play a lot of times on TV?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, but there are some matches he played before, right? There is something to see already. If I would play him first round, maybe it would be different. But the guy is already top 100. He was not before the tournament, but he's already in. It's not like you play someone who you never seen and who is coming from a Challenger Tour, you know.

He's there, playing good tennis, obviously, beating Andrey yesterday and the other players, Andy, and now against Gael he's playing.

So, you know, the guy has good tennis. He's pumped, motivated, he said this in interview. He believes in himself, let's say. The same time, if he wins today, for sure, he will be determined but nervous also. He cannot hide that, to play for the first final, first title.

So I will prepare and I will just try to show my good tennis, let's say. And that's it.