THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 8, 2025

Karen Khachanov

Press Conference

T. FRITZ/K. Khachanov

6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Karen, tough defeat out there for you. Just give us your thoughts on the match and how you played.

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, yeah, definitely. Once you go forward in the draw, you always thinking about winning, going through. But to be honest, first two sets Taylor was better really in serve, return, basically controlling more the game. I mean, it was still just two breaks that he did.

At the same time I felt like he was really playing great and better, let's say, in a few situations. That was the difference in the first two sets.

In the third set, finally I found my position on the return. I started to return better. That's how the matches are going. I felt like I started to control the points more, started to go more through, like playing harder, playing with more intensity. Suddenly the situation changed, 6-1, 2-0 for me.

In this game that he broke me back, always questionable if I could do something better or he played well. Basically towards the end of the fourth set, he started to serve again really high percentage, everything just on the line, so precise. The tiebreak was the same.

It's a pity that I didn't win the fourth set because who knows if we go to the deciding one, how it's going to end up. At the same time full credit to him on playing towards the end of the fourth set really, really high level again and basically winning that match, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Really impressed by the way you came back into the match in the third set. What did you change? You just seemed to feel and look more relaxed.

KAREN KHACHANOV: If I would know, I would tell you straightaway.

Sometimes it's just small things. You go into this flow, into this feeling. Maybe it's mental, maybe it's a little bit everything around. You maybe relax a little bit. You just had a couple of great points. It's a feeling that you start to have in the moment. You say, Oh, wow, I'm not missing a ball, and I'm playing really well, and I'm dominating again.

It's overall. It's the whole package of the game. That's why you raise up the level. I think to make long story short, it's basically raising your level in the important moments. I think that's what he did at the end of the fourth set basically. He did it better than me.

Q. In the early sets, you did seem quite calm. You seemed to be able to deal with it mentally. Is that part of your game you've always been good at or have you worked at that?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, I'm working on it still. It's still the work to do to be better because maybe I could have tried to raise my game. You can always ask this question to yourself, if you can do something better or you could have done something better or not.

I think at the same time no regrets because once you take a decision on a certain point, certain moments, you stick to it. Then after the match, of course you need to analyze. You need to see if you've done, let's say, good job or the opponent just did better, or maybe you just did some wrong choices or wrong selection of shots. That's always a questionable.

I think during the match, once you make a decision, you just stick to it.

Q. The electronic line calling system, how did you find that today? There seemed to be a few quirks with that system.

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, look, to be honest, I'm more for line umpires, to be honest. I don't know. You feel a little bit court too big, too alone without line umpires.

At the same time looks like AI and electronic line calls has to be very precise and no mistakes, but we've seen a couple. That's questionable why this is happening. Is just like error of the machine or what's the reason?

Like today I think there were a few calls. I don't know, very questionable if it's really touching the line or not. At the same time during one point, the machine call it just out during the rally. Sometimes it's scary to let machine do what they want, you know (smiling)?

Q. Suddenly you get an out call. It seemed quite weird.

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, what can I do? I can argue, or I can be angry on it or just continue playing. It's not in my power. It's already happened. I need to kind of accept it, and that's it.

It was not kind of super important point. If it would happen on a break point or deuce or maybe tiebreaker, okay, you can get more mad. But it was just beginning of the set, 15-Love or Love-15. I don't remember. It was maybe not that important moment. That's why I stayed really focused and calm.

Q. It's a little bit too early, but how could you sum up your tournament?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, definitely I'm happy to reach quarterfinals once again here. Plus, in general, after 2022, 2023 when I reached quarters and semis in Grand Slams. 2024 I didn't do the second week of a slam. There was a short period of time where I didn't manage to go further in the Grand Slams.

That's why in that case I feel like it was a successful, good tournament. Obviously knowing that I had chances to go deeper, and I wished to go deeper, but it is what it is. I take it as a positive tournament, definitely.

If you ask me before the event started to play last eight, obviously I would take it. But at the same time, happy but not satisfied. Let's say like this.

Q. Slightly personal question. Does it make you sort of sad that you can't have Russia next to your name, your nationality by your name? Are you hopeful that a ceasefire happens?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I would say so, definitely. We're just following the rules. Unfortunately, it is what it is.

Again, it's not in my power to kind of argue with that. It's one of the policies that we have to follow to play in England, to play in Wimbledon, and basically in ATP Tour all the last three, three and a half years.

I wish. I wish there could be a flag, yes, but right now we have to do what we have to do to follow the protocols, basically.

Q. Are you hopeful there could be a ceasefire or this war could end?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Definitely. But what kind of question is that? How do you think? That's obvious I think. If you ask any person in this room or outside the room, I think everybody would wish to happen.