Khachanov on Rome Victory: Bouncing Back After a Tough Start and Finding His Game

World No. 24 Karen Khachanov of Russia commented on his convincing victory over Francesco Passaro in the third round of the Rome Masters, where he won 6/3, 6/0.

“I was down 0/3 with a break, and then I won 12 games in a row – that`s the first time something like that has happened to me in many years on Tour,” Khachanov stated. “I didn`t have a good start, and he was really fired up, spurred on by the crowd. I didn`t immediately get into the match; I was trying to find my rhythm. And when I finally won a game and got the break back, everything fell into place, I found my game.”

He observed his opponent`s reaction: “I saw that he was getting tight, becoming more and more nervous. In tennis, that sometimes happens – you suddenly don`t know what to do. I`m very happy that I managed to persevere, showed such a result and level. I`m through to the next round, I have a great match under my belt, which is a significant advantage – and now I need to concentrate on the next opponent.”

When asked about his feelings during the current clay court season, Khachanov replied, “There is always room for improvement. My team and I are constantly discussing what we can enhance from one tournament to the next. Every day feels different. For now, I`m gradually building up my rhythm by playing consecutive matches. I`ve been looking forward to this since the start of the year. I`ve had tight matches and frustrating losses against top players.”

He elaborated on his objective: “This is what I`m striving for, this is my ultimate goal – to find rhythm, maintain my form, and advance through the tournament here in Rome, and then focus on the upcoming events.”

Responding to whether he enjoys playing in Rome, Khachanov affirmed, “Yes, the stands are full here, and the city is wonderful, truly one of my favorites. It`s a beautiful tournament, and everything is going very well so far. I`m here together with my wife and sons. They don`t often travel with me on Tour, so it`s an added pleasure – spending time relaxing with them after matches, switching off, and then returning to work.”