Khachanov beats two-time semi-finalist Carreno Busta to reach first US Open quarter-final

Karen Khachanov defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 on Sunday night and will play Australian Nick Kyrgios, the No 23 seed, next

Karen Khachanov at the 2022 US Open in New York Image Credit: AI/ Reuters/ Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

September 5, 2022

Russia’s Karen Khachanov had never been past the third round at the US Open until this year. Now, the 27th seed is through to his first quarter-final at Flushing Meadows after beating two-time semi-finalist Pablo Carreno Busta in a five-set battle.

Khachanov needed three hours and 21 minutes to beat the 12th seeded Spaniard 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3and reach his third career Grand Slam singles quarter-final (Note – also reached the French Open quarter-finals in 2019 and Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2021).

The Russian had also beaten Carreno Busta in the Olympic semi-finals in Tokyo last year where he claimed the silver medal. This was the fourth consecutive win for the Russian over Carreno Busta, all of which have come in the last 14 months, as he improves to 6-3 in their head-to-head.

A breakthrough in New York!

Karen Khachanov is into his first #USOpen quarterfinal. pic.twitter.com/LdeOQl2VSv
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2022

“I’m right now in a good state of mind, good level of tennis” – Khachanov

Khachanov said the break enforced by the Wimbledon ban on Russian players helped him and he is in a good place both mentally and game-wise.

“In US Open I wanted to do well. Also I felt like I was playing good level overall lately, since the second part of clay season. I was playing more consistent. I had better results, like reaching quarterfinals, semifinals. I wanted to do one more step to have bigger results,” the Russian added.

“We had a time to rest and to practice in July during Wimbledon. It kind of paying off. Even though in those two Masters I didn’t do so well in terms of results, but still I was believing that my game is there. It’s a question of winning matches and keep doing what I have to do. It shows to myself that everything is possible. I’m right now in a good state of mind, good level of tennis. I’m really happy to reach first time quarterfinals here in New York.”

Khachanov to play Kyrgios in the quarter-finals

Khachanov, ranked No 31, will face Australian Nick Kyrgios, the No 23 seed, next. The Australian defeated world No 1 Daniil Medvedev in four sets on Sunday evening.

In the earlier rounds of the Flushing Meadows, the Russian defeated American Denis Kudla (3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2), Brazilian Thiago Monteiro (6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4) and Jack Draper (6-3, 4-6, 6-5 ret.).

US Open, New York City (Grand Slam), other fourth round matches

Casper Ruud (5) beat Corentin Moutet (LL): 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-2
Matteo Berrettini (13) beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Marin Cilic vs. Carlos Alcaraz
Ilya Ivashka vs. Jannik Sinner
Frances Tiafoe vs. Rafael Nadal
Cameron Norrie vs. Andrey Rublev
Daniil Medvedev vs. Nick Kyrgios