"We both deserved to win," says Khachanov after victory over Zverev in Toronto semifinals
Karen Khachanov has secured his spot in the final of the Toronto Masters 1000. The Russian has quietly advanced and confirmed his impressive run with a thrilling, rollercoaster win over world No. 3 Alexander Zverev (6-3, 4-6, 7-6).
The 16th-ranked ATP player, who came within a point of defeat, ultimately had the final say. After his victory, Khachanov appeared at a press conference, where he reflected on his match against the German.
"I’m very proud to be back in a Masters 1000 final. It’s been a great week, but it took me many years to find myself in this position again after playing several Grand Slam semifinals.
Once we reached the decisive tie-break, we can easily say that both of us deserved to win. I wouldn’t know what to say made the difference.
The most important thing is what you can do in the crucial moments. It could mean putting more balls in play, hitting more winners, or making fewer unforced errors.
I think he started making mistakes when he was leading 3-1 in the tie-break. I managed to put a bit more pressure on him, and he grew more nervous.
But even when you play your best tennis, you can win or lose. That’s just how it is," Khachanov stated before being asked about the new Masters 1000 format.
"To be honest, the time feels longer, almost like a Grand Slam. I’m not complaining about having a day off between matches, but it’s tougher to stay mentally focused over a 12-day tournament.
Maybe an eight or ten-day tournament system would work better, but that’s just my opinion," concluded the world No. 16 in his post-match remarks to *Punto de Break*.
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