First Semi-Final of the Season for Khachanov, Defeats Davidovich Fokina in Barcelona
The quarterfinals of the ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona are underway. Karen Khachanov and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina battled for the first ticket to the final four in Catalonia.
The two have faced each other three times on the tour, but their only clay-court meeting went in favor of the Russian two years ago in the first round of the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000.
Khachanov, the world No. 27, got off to the better start by securing an early break, but Davidovich Fokina broke back to level at 4-4. Ultimately, the Russian, who won the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000 in 2018, finished the set stronger, taking the last two games to move closer to a semifinal spot on the Catalan clay.
Davidovich Fokina responded quickly. The world No. 30 raced to a 5-2 lead and served for the set but completely collapsed afterward. Khachanov held firm, winning the last five games of the match to triumph in straight sets (6-4, 7-5), leveling their head-to-head record at two wins apiece.
Most importantly, Khachanov advances to his first semifinal of the year (and the 25th of his ATP career), having previously failed to progress beyond the third round at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Miami.
After victories over Cameron Norrie (6-7, 6-4, 6-3) and Jaume Munar (7-5, 6-4), the former world No. 8 now moves into the final four, where he will face the winner of the clash between Casper Ruud and Holger Rune.
