US OPEN

September 7, 2026

Karen Khachanov

Press Conference

K. KHACHANOV/L. Tien

7-5, 4-6, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: First of all, congratulations. Come-from-behind five-setter, just shy of four hours. Took out a crowd favorite. Your thoughts?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, definitely, look, it was incredible, I think, incredible match in general in terms of the level physically, mentally. We pushed each other to the limit, let's say.

Yeah, I'm super happy that I could go through. Especially, you know, I had some tough losses in five-setters, so this one feels really special in a way.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Obviously it was a very tough match, great atmosphere. I'm just wondering what you felt was the difference in the match and your impressions of his game and also what you said to him at the net when you finished?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, look, we played for the first time against each other. We practiced just actually this week after our first round matches, like, first time we had to hit with each other.

Look, the difference, at the end it's a small margin, obviously. You know, it's always a gamble in a way where you step in more, where you take a risk, or you decide to play more safe, and you push the guy to kind of miss. You know, it's always question.

I'm super happy that I was mixing a lot. I was trying to dominate from the beginning. I was stepping in. I was, let's say, taking the risks in a way, you know, trying to play aggressive under my terms. I think that was -- from my view, that was the difference towards the end of the match, you know.

I went for it more, let's say, maybe. But, again, tennis is always against opponent, so maybe he did something different or he could have done something better. Who knows, you know?

At the net, I just told him it was a great battle. He's a great competitor, great athlete, and I wish him good luck in the next tournaments. That's what I said.

Q. Anything in particular about his game that is interesting or --

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, definitely. Super talented guy. I mean, look, he was resisting -- let's say, resisting through many shots. We had this intensity through the whole match. Maybe the fourth set I felt like he dropped a little bit. That's why I think I took a little bit easier.

But, like, all the sets, all the points, if you don't make the first serve or if the serve doesn't help, you have to play precise, you know, move him, push him, step in, go back.

Look, there were so many rallies, incredible ones where actually I lost them. I mean, even though I lost them, I was pissed, but at the same time, I enjoyed, because I did right point, but he played just better.

You know, he passed me a few times. Incredible from running all over the court, you know, extra balls coming back. So, yeah, great potential, of course.

Q. Karen, obviously it's fantastic to be reaching the latter stages of a major, but for yourself, how big a deal and important is it for you? I mean, your ranking has gone under about 50 coming into the tournament. So when you consider what you've achieved here and what it could do further down, what are your thoughts?

KAREN KHACHANOV: I mean, look, what other thoughts? Obviously, you know, I'm here in the quarterfinals. What can I say?

Yeah, I think before the tournament, I mentioned that there was a challenging year in a way, because I was during all these years consistently solid, you know, being top 10, entering top 10, being top 15, top 20 for a consistent time.

Yeah, there were some doubts. There were some more ups and downs this season. But look, this is the beauty of tennis in a way that if you put yourself in a good perspective, you know, you believe.

Everything can change in one week. You have to be ready for that. Obviously it doesn't come as a miracle. I worked for it. I earned it in a way, so that's why I'm super happy to play another major, let's say, deeper and further stages.

Q. In that third set tiebreak you had a backhand pretty much to an open court that could have set up triple set point, just missed, and then Learner turned it on and won that set. How did you refocus from that missed opportunity, and I guess, what were you saying when you were making that almost, like, review sign or that box sign?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, exactly, I was a little bit pissed obviously, because that was a good chance to make it 6-3 in the tiebreaker, to have a bigger lead, you know, and maybe to close it out in my favor. I didn't do it.

Then, you know, he took the opportunity, and he closed the tiebreaker. You know, that's why I took kind of a little bit longer break to cool down a little bit, to change my clothes, and have a fresh start. So I think that kind of helped me.

Also, I get a little bit boost of energy in the beginning of the fourth, and I made the early break. That's what helped me to win the fourth set especially.

Q. As someone who has a name that a lot of people have trouble pronouncing, and I can empathize with that, when you hear your name being said different ways, do you get frustrated after all these years? Do you just let it go?

KAREN KHACHANOV: What can I do? I mean, look, it is true that some surnames maybe it's easier to pronounce some of them or not. So it is what it is.

I remember somewhere in the tournament Shapovalov also had troubles. I think even the person who was calling him, like, "Shapovalov", "Shapovalov." He couldn't say, and we were smiling all the time.

Look, it is what it is. I hope maybe people read somewhere, you know, and pronounce the surname right way. It would be nicer, of course, but I cannot react to every person in the world who doesn't do it.

Q. Your next opponent you haven't played in a match, but I'm pretty sure you've practiced with him multiple times. What do you make of his game and his development so early in his career?

KAREN KHACHANOV: We practiced twice actually here also. Didn't play official match. He's also young guy, upcoming. You know, best season so far. Also rising.

He has a, you know, core game, like big serve, a steady baseliner. I think takes a little bit more risk, I mean, like, pushing more with the forehand, trying to play also aggressive when he can, and physically good.

So, yeah, I think he's a tough competitor, tough opponent. He had a great wins this Grand Slam, I mean, first time quarterfinals.

Super nice guy outside the court. We always kind of support each other, so it will be an interesting encounter.

Q. You've had up-and-down results this year. Obviously you've been in this stage and further in a Grand Slam. Did you feel something building for it to have this kind of result, or does it feel like it's, we say, out of left field?

KAREN KHACHANOV: No, definitely building. Look, like I mentioned, sometimes it's a short turnaround, short click. Then this is where you win, and then you start building, you know, the form, the momentum, the confidence, the dynamic.

So it's all connected, let's say. It's all in the air. You have to do it. You have to build it, you know? So it doesn't come out of nowhere.

Okay, it's not like I played incredible bad all the tournaments. So I'm just saying on my terms, on my level, let's say, yeah, it was worse than before, you know. But at the same time, there was a big room to improve. That's what I'm trying to do.

Q. Obviously you don't take any player, inexperienced or as young as they may be, you know, flippantly. Putting that to one side, the fact that you've got through to the quarterfinals, do you allow yourself to think further, or you can't afford to do that?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Okay, you always think further. Obviously as deeper you go, the stakes get higher, you know? The desire is more. The will is more.

Look, at the same time, you cannot think too much forward. You know, you need to think about your next opponent first. You cannot jump the stages.

So definitely you understand the moment. You appreciate the moment. You know, you enjoying out there on the court, winning those battles, those great opponents, tough matches.

That's it, and you just move on, prepare for the next one, and if it means to be -- to win, then you think, of course, okay, look, you are in quarterfinals. Then hopefully if you win, you are thinking about semifinals.

But to think in the third round about finals, I think it's a little bit out of context, I'd say, in a way.