THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 4, 2025

Karen Khachanov

Press Conference

K. KHACHANOV/N. Borges

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

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I just wondering if you could just sum up your match? How was your feelings to get through that tiebreak in the end?

KAREN KHACHANOV: You know, it's not much to say, to be honest. You know, once you get to this stage, fifth-set tiebreaker, you're just thinking about how you can win, obviously. Nothing tries to bother you. You know, you are really locked in, let's say, in the moment and just try to do the best out of it. That's what I was basically trying to do.

I think I played really, really good tiebreak from the beginning until the end. I was taking the early lead in the tiebreak, so you know, I think it's very important, especially in a fifth-setter.

Plus, it's not until seven points. It's until ten, so it's different. Even when I was already having seven points, I say, Oh, I need three more (smiling). I had to really stay focused until the end, and I'm extremely happy to pull this match through.

Q. You showed a lot of emotion at the end. What was going through your head once you secured that win?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Like I mentioned in the interview on court, these kind of matches, you know, it's like a roller coaster in your head, a lot of thoughts, a lot of emotions going through. You are living through these moments.

First I was up in the score. Then I was down. Then again up. You know, you are always believe that you can win, obviously.

Then at the end I was losing 5-2 in the fifth set, so, you know, had I managed to win this, so that's why I was just really tired. That's why I fall on the ground and basically, you know, just really, really happy to get this win, yeah.

Q. You mentioned that sort of in the fifth set you're experienced in fifth sets when you have played a lot of Grand Slam tennis and particularly in those moments. Do you think that was something that also helps you, that sort of experience that you've got in that fifth set?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Who knows? I cannot tell you 100%. Obviously that helped me. I don't know if, you know, only this thing helped me to beat Nuno in the fifth-set tiebreaker.

Obviously I've won some, I've lost some. At the end of the day, it's another match. You break everything what happened before, and you start from zero. Like a new page every time you step on the court.

That's why I would say, for sure, those matches, previous matches, gave me confidence, obviously, knowing that I was able to be physically fit, mentally stay there.

Yeah, maybe part of it, of course. That's why we call it experience, you know, at the end.

Q. What did you sense on the other side of the net where you were serving for the match? He shanked a volley and then wild forehands, two double-faults. You know that he felt the moment. What did you sense from the other side?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Okay, I mean, my coaches, they were saying to me, Okay, come on, try to stay there in this game. If the opportunity comes, just try to take it. That's what it happened, basically.

In a way I can say the same. When I was 2-1 up, I was really breaking these dynamics into my side. I was feeling really that I'm taking over, you know, but then all of a sudden, let's say, I made a couple of errors, and he turned it around.

So that's why these matches, you know, they are made through these moments. Like where you are up, when you are down, and then again you try to go up, you know.

In this particular moment, yeah, when he was serving for the match, maybe he felt nervous. Obviously, I would say if he wouldn't, he would lie. That's why opportunities came, and I took them, you know, to break him.

Q. In the next round you are playing Kamil Majchrzak of Poland. If you could say because Kamil said about your match on grass in 's-Hertogenbosch, and he said it was very tough. What are your expectations ahead of the next match?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, look, you know, we played actually three years ago in 's-Hertogenbosch. I won 7-6 in the third. That was also another comeback. I was 4-1 down, double break, I remember, in the third set.

Yeah, you know, he was out for, I don't know, one year I think. Yeah, one year. Look, he came back. He is top 100 beating Berrettini the first round, beating Rinderknech.

Basically he's very tough opponent, because I think his game overall is consistent and solid. Like he has good serve, good return, good strokes. So I need to, yeah, get recovery, get ready tomorrow to have a small practice and prepare for the next battle. That's it.

Q. Did you feel that towards the end of the fifth set you had a physical edge over him?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I would say so. I would say so. I think maybe also physicality made the difference a little bit. In the fifth set obviously if you are a little bit more fresh, maybe even by 5% or 2%, whatever, you know, because especially at the end of the match we had really long rallies, crazy rallies. We were just killing each other from side to side.

Of course, physical abilities, they count in this moment, definitely, yeah.

Q. You have great experience in terms of the farther rounds of the Grand Slams. If you could say, what in your perspective is the key moments in those kind of great, great matches, if you could say?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I don't know exactly what is your question. Sorry.

Q. I mean that in terms of your experience, you are able to -- those are the moments in the matches which are the deciding points. You feel the momentum and that kind of stuff. When you are gaining experience at the highest level, you are able to -- how to say it -- to take advantage of it, to maybe win with your mind, inside your head?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I think this is a little bit what the question was before I would say about the experience maybe, yeah. I would say playing those matches, of course, winning those matches, go through those matches in my career, you know, in different moments and in Grand Slams, obviously they count.

I think in a way that gives you a little confidence behind just knowing that you are able to manage and to go through these challenges. Doesn't matter if you play good or bad or whatever. Yeah, it's just a matter of fact, I would say. Of course, that's what we call experience.

At the same time, you know, momentum changes a lot during the matches, so you need to also feel and try to control your temper, your emotions. You know, when you can't let it go, when you need to stay calm and sharp and focused, you know, this is what it is all about, yeah.