Monumental Mensik's dream Doha run halted by Karen Khachanov as Russian seals sixth career title

Saturday, 24 February 2024 at 18:08

Karen Khachanov was one of the top seeds this week at the Qatar Open in Doha and lived up to his billing and spoiled the dream of one Jakub Mensik with the teenager who has emerged this week as one of the real stories so far of the year on the ATP Tour losing out 7-6, 6-4 to the Russian.

Khachanov seals a sixth career title with five of those coming on the ATP 250 tour including this one as well as one Masters 1000 title. It all came down to one pivotal moment for the 18-year-old who will now take a special entry into Dubai next week. He had four set points in the first set tie-break but couldn't take his chances.

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It was a crazy tie-break as it ebbed and flowed and in reality Mensik not being able to gain a stranglehold on the tie was telling. Khachanov had one short sharp burst towards the back end and Mensik faltered as the Russian thrived as he took it 14-12.

He then tripped up to start the second which proved fatal, metaphorically as he was broken by his more experienced opponent who got the sole break he needed in the set. It was fairly even from there with neither player being troubled on their serve and Khachanov managed to serve it out to seal the title and end the dream of the teenager. Most will be talking about Mensik after this week, but in reality it is Khachanov who reigns supreme and after injury troubles following some of the best runs of his career, it will be very much a delight for him.