Djokovic admits early difficulty in Khachanov clash: "I was struggling to find my rhythm, I came into the match slow and sluggish"
ATPWednesday, 07 June 2023 at 08:00
Novak
Djokovic acknowledged the difficulties he faced in the first set against Karen
Khachanov in the quarterfinals of the 2023 French Open.
'Nole' had
to come back from a set down to defeat Karen Khachanov and reach his 12th
semifinals at Roland Garros. The Serbian player, who has lifted the trophy
twice before, will now aim to secure a spot in another French Open final
against Carlos Alcaraz.
It wasn't
an easy match for the 22-time Grand Slam champion, as he started off poorly in
the first set, failing to threaten Khachanov's serve. The Russian player
managed to take advantage and claim the first set with a break, leaving
Djokovic visibly uncomfortable.
However,
the world No. 2 grew stronger as the match progressed, winning the second-set
tiebreak convincingly and dominating Khachanov thereafter.
After the
match, Djokovic spoke about the challenging encounter he had against the
Russian player:
“It was due
to his quality of tennis; he was better for most of the first two sets.
"I was
struggling to find my rhythm, making a lot of unforced errors. I came into the
match quite slow and sluggish, but played a perfect tiebreak, and I played a
couple of levels higher than the beginning and had a bit of a scare towards the
end of the fourth, but managed to close it out,” former world No. 1 said.
"It’s
a big fight; something you expect in the quarters of a Slam, you won’t be
handed your victories, and I’m glad to overcome a big challenge.
"I
missed a couple of easy shots. These things happen, sometimes they work,
sometimes they don’t,” ‘Nole’ said.
"Against
players like Karen that’re aggressive with a big serve, sometimes they don’t
move as well. I tried to expose him, playing unpredictable, a lot of drop
shots, changing the length, and so forth. I’m running down all my tactics now!
"It
was a big fight; it always is. I have a lot of respect for Karen,"
Djokovic concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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