Thiem's 7: Interview with Karen Khachanov - "Nick Kyrgios is a good guy for me"
Karen Khachanov said goodbye to "Thiem's 7" in Kitzbühel on Thursday evening by beating Matteo Berrettini. In an interview with tennisnet, the Russian talks about the Corona period in Russia, injustices in the new ranking system and also a little bit about Nick Kyrgios .
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jul 10, 2020, 12:07 pm
tennisnet : Mr. Khachanov. It was your second time in Kitzbühel. Could you take your family to Tyrol with your son?
Karen Khachanov : No. Unfortunately it was really difficult to enter the European Union. I'm glad I could come, but my family is not here.
tennisnet : We have heard that you have hardly been able to play tennis in the past few months. How was and is the situation in Russia?
Khachanov : I did exercise and tried to keep myself in shape during these three and a half, four months in Moscow. I only played tennis not to forget how to do it. But I didn't have my team around me. Here I met my coach for the first time. That is no excuse now. But it is difficult to prepare properly and especially to play the first matches well. In Austria they did a good job and started their own league. Dominic has played almost 20 matches. Events like these here in Kitzbühel are very helpful because you get practice and can work on your mistakes.
tennisnet : Will you play another event before the tour starts again?
Khachanov : Next week in Berlin, but only on hard court. I have to go back and get my family first. I could also play on grass, but I would rather find my rhythm again.
tennisnet: Jan-Lennard Struff noted here that he did not feel sufficiently informed by the ATP.
Khachanov : I feel the same way. You don't know so many things. There are still too many uncertainties: what will happen? Where should we start? How should we prepare? After all, every player is in the same situation. I hope that will dissolve soon and that we can prepare ourselves with a clear head.
Khachanov - "This system protects the best six to eight players"
tennisnet : After all that is known at the moment - are you planning to play in New York?
Khachanov : Honestly: I have not yet spoken to my team about this. But I tend to go there. Of course it is a little risky, but at the moment it is also risky to go to a market. We have to try to live with the virus anyway, to live our normal life. Otherwise your head will explode.
tennisnet : How do you like the ranking model presented by the ATP tour?
Khachanov : This system obviously protects the top six to eight players. From the perspective of the normal world rankings, it's okay for me because instead of a ten-month season, we'll only have about four months. But what is not fair, and where I do not agree at all, is the regulation regarding the annual ranking, the Race to London, for which you should keep the points: Of course everyone will play the tournaments, but there is no pressure at all. Because the top six already know that they are sure to play in London. For the rest of us there are only two places left. Rafa and Daniil go to the US Open, but they don't care if they lose early.
tennisnet : You mentioned Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev is here in Kitzbühel - with you, three Russian players are currently in the top 15. Why?
Khachanov : I think there are no coincidences, but an explanation for everything. Our generation did a lot right in its development and made the right decisions. The right team selected. And we worked hard.
tennisnet : In the past few days, Nick Kyrgios has expressed his displeasure with Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev on Twitter. They were on the other side of the net when Kyrgios smashed two thugs in the locker room last summer. What do you think of the Australian?
Khachanov : Nick Kyrgios is a good guy for me. We played at the juniors at the same time. He knows us well, we come from the same generation. He may seem crazy to some people on the court, but he's a cool guy away from the court, really relaxed. Sometimes things just happen because he feels too much pressure from the inside. Of course, he is responsible for what he does. But I will not judge whether it is good or bad what he does.