Paris: Unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov caused one of the shocks of the tennis year by overpowering Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-4 in the Paris Masters tennis tournament final to end the Serbian’s remarkable spell of dominance in the men’s game here Sunday.
The 22-year-old Russian has for some time been seen as one of the rising young talents of the sport but few could have envisaged his demolition of the Serbian superstar, who was on a three-month, 22-match winning streak.
Khachanov, in the process became the third different first-time winner of a Masters tournament this year — joining John Isner and Juan Martin del Potro.
Djokovic was expected to celebrate his return to World No.1 Monday with a record-extending fifth Paris title but he went down in one hour 37 minutes amid a hail of 31 crushing winners from the Muscovite’s racket.
Khachanov, a strapping 6ft 6in huge hitter with surprisingly fleet movement around the court, took advantage of Djokovic appearing to be a little under-the-weather after a week struggling with flu-like symptoms.
Yet even though the Serb may also have been suffering from the after-effects of his epic three-hour win over Roger Federer in the semifinal Saturday, nothing could be taken away from the outstanding quality of youngster’s attacking game.
Earning his fourth straight win over a top-10 player this week, Khachanov, whose muscular game resembles that of his childhood hero Marat Safin, the last Russian winner in Paris, picked up the biggest title of his burgeoning career.
Djokovic made a strong start in his pursuit of a record-equalling 33rd Masters title as he broke for a 3-1 lead in the opening set.
But the world No.18 Khachanov, a winner at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow last month, hit back in the very next game as Djokovic dragged a forehand into the tramlines, down break point.
The unseeded Russian then broke Djokovic for a 6-5 lead, momentarily faltering as he tried to serve out for the set before calmly regrouping to surge ahead.
“To finish the season like this is really a dream come true,” said Khachanov after the match, who will rise to a career high of 12th when the latest rankings are published Monday.
Going into the event, Khachanov had won just three of 19 encounters against players in the top 10 but claimed a fourth such scalp in a week after snapping Djokovic’s 22-match winning run.
“I am very happy to have reached the final. I didn’t feel too good but I must give my congratulations to Karen. He deserves this trophy and I am sure we will see many more matches from him in the future,” Djokovic said.
Meanwhile, Khachanov was all praise for his opponent and said it’s such an inspiring to be sharing the court with such great player that too in the final.