By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, November 3, 2018
Karen Khachanov demolished Dominic Thiem, 6-4, 6-1, powering into his first Masters final in Paris where he will face Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer.
Photo credit: Rolex Paris Masters Facebook
Playing beneath the ceiling, Karen Khachanov continues to blow the lid off opponents.
The explosive Khachanov broke serve five times in a row demolishing Dominic Thiem, 6-4, 6-1, to roll into his first Masters 1000 final in Paris.
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"Of course, it's one of the biggest I think achievements right now to make finals in the Masters 1000," Khachanov said. "And I'm just happy that match by match I'm just increasing the level of the game."
The 22-year-old Khachanov raised his record indoors to 19-4 rampaging into his third final of the year.
A dominant Khachanov dismantled Thiem and will face either US Open champion Novak Djokovic or Australian Open champion Roger Federer in tomorrow's final.
Last summer, Khachanov lost to world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the Toronto semifinals and is eager to face another iconic champion in a Masters final.
"I'm happy to play against them in the highest stages," Khachanov said. "Like in the finals especially. I played this year against many top guys and I think that's a good thing. That gives me more experience to play against them on the higher stages of Grand Slams, of big tournaments like Masters 1000.
"So I think it's just a matter of being prepared and to go for it and to try to get the win. It's the same, like, actually when they play against each other. They know each other well and then the better player wins in this situation."
Meanwhile Thiem, who took down defending champion Jack Sock in the quarterfinals, will move on to the Nitto ATP Finals in London for the third time.
Fourteen years after his tennis hero, Marat Safin, captured his third Rolex Paris Masters crown, Khachanov erupted in an electrifying performance in the City of Light.
The 18th-ranked Russian ravaged the Roland Garros runner-up's serve, punishing returns to put Thiem on the defensive. Facing the heavy-serving Austrian, Khachanov won 69 percent of points played on Thiem's second serve.
Khachanov, who carried a 3-16 career record vs. Top 10 opponents into Paris, scored his third straight Top 10 triumph in as many days.
The Moscow champion saved a match point edging John Isner in a third-set tie break on Thursday before annihilating Alexander Zverev, 6-1, 6-2, in yesterday's quarterfinals.
This first meeting between rising stars pitted two guys can blister the ball with vigor.
While Thiem tends to play with more shape to his shots—and slides the slice backhand around the court more often—Khachanov is better balanced off both wings.
Aggressive court positioning, disciplined shot-selection and a willingness to close at net helped Khachanov outclass Thiem at times today.
"I think for his size he's moving really well and that's why he's I think 13 or 12 already now. So soon top 10," Thiem said. "So [he's an] absolute world-class player. And in general there are many big hitting guys right now on the tour. They don't give you any time and they are serving all really good. So if I'm not playing really, really good like today, then what's happening, they kill me."
Through the first eight games, neither man was tested to deuce on serve.
The 6'6" Khachanov was all over any mid-court shots he saw cranking declarative drives into the corners.
Drawing a running forehand error to open the ninth game, Khachanov's blistering power elicited a shanked forehand. When Thiem shoveled a lob wide, Khachanov had triple break point.
While Khachanov has an elaborate take-back and sports an extreme western grip on his forehand, he was timing that shot beautifully today. Drilling a diagonal forehand to stretch his opponent to the backhand, Khachanov stepped in and clocked a clean crosscourt forehand breaking for 5-4.
Thiem is at his best dictating with his forehand, but Khachanov beat him off both wings.
Serving for the set, the rangy Russian ran into some stress.
A sliding Thiem was off the court when he flicked a defensive forehand forcing Khachanov to play another shot. Khachanov fended off a pair of break points in a tense 10th game.
Though he's not a natural volleyer, Khachanov came forward and finished a fine forehand volleyer off into the corner for set point.
Thiem floated a backhand long as Khachanov converted his second set point.
Riding the momentum, the 18th-ranked Russian ripped returns breaking to start the second set.
Thiem torched a backhand laser down the line to break back.
Flat strikes streaming from Khachanov's black-and-green Wilson racquet carried the weight of a bowling ball pinning Thiem back behind the baseline. Khachanov hammered out his third straight service break 16 minutes into the second set.
Though he's often typecast as a baseline blaster, Khachanov showed subtle layers to his game backing up the break with his most dynamic service game.
A shrewd drop shot and a slick back-spinning backhand volley confirmed the break for 3-1.
Khachanov broke at 15 when Thiem netted a forehand Thumping an ace down the middle, Khachanov extended his lead to 5-1.
Even when Thiem was on the offensive, he couldn't always get the ball by the man with the wide wing span. Khachanov blocked back a smash and Thiem nudged a volley into net for match point. Khachanov completed a devastating performance raising his record to 45-22 on the season.
During the handshake, Thiem implored Khachanov to "go take the title."
Should he prevail in tomorrow's final, Khachanov will rise to No. 11 when the new rankings are released on Monday with no ceiling in sight.