Wimbledon 2021: Khachanov downs Korda in five sets to reach quarterfinals

The 25th seeded Russian beat Wimbledon debutant Korda 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 and now will face Canada's Denis Shapovalov for a place in the semifinals.

Published : Jul 05, 2021 21:07 IST , LONDON

Khachanov will now face Canada's Denis Shapovalov in the quarterfinals.
Khachanov will now face Canada's Denis Shapovalov in the quarterfinals.
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Khachanov will now face Canada's Denis Shapovalov in the quarterfinals.

Karen Khachanov spearheaded a Russian assault in the fourth round at Wimbledon on Monday as he beat last-standing American Sebastian Korda in a five-set fight to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.

The 25th seed needed four attempts to finish Korda off in a titanic final set, three times failing to hold serve to win the match but eventually coming through 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 10-8. The 25th seed needed four attempts to finish Korda off in a titanic final set that included a record 13 service breaks according to tournament statisticians IBM .

With Andrey Rublev and world number two Daniil Medvedev also into the last 16, it was the first time three Russian men have made it to the last 16 of Wimbledon in the professional era.

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Fifth seed Rublev failed to back up Khachanov's advance, however, going down 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 to Hungary's Marton Fucsovics who reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Medvedev was bogged down in a battle with Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, leading by two sets to one when play was cancelled for the day on Court Two because of rain.

For Khachanov the relief was clear as Korda hit long on match point, the Russian letting out a mighty roar. There were only six service breaks in the first four sets, but returns dominated during the fifth as both players began to read each other's delivery in cool conditions.

"I would say it's not common, but it is what it is with the nerves," Khachanov said. "Yeah, 13 breaks, I don't know, it's tough to explain.

"This year I've had very close matches like this, and for me, to pull it off, this is where it counts. The most important is to win, doesn't matter how. I'm super happy about it," he added.

Wimbledon debutant Korda, celebrating his 21st birthday, showed great resistance in the deciding set, saving a match point at 5-4 down with a reflex volley from a ball drilled with searing pace by Khachanov.

Korda, son of former Australian Open champion Petr Korda and brother of Nelly Korda, who is the LPGA's number one golfer, broke the Russian's serve to stay in the match despite showing signs of cramp. But when he lost his serve again at 8-8, it proved decisive as Khachanov finished off a near four-hour tussle to set up a quarterfinal against Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

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"Today I played my first ever five-set match," Korda said. "It was a whole new experience for me."

Shapovalov, 22, is also a first-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist and Khachanov thinks it could be a chance for one of the younger brigade to go all the way and win a Grand Slam.

"For sure the momentum is there," he said. "At the end of the day, if we look at the past slams, I mean, Daniil (Medvedev) was in two finals, Sascha (Zverev) was in his first final, Stefanos (Tsitsipas) was in the final.

"They didn't get the wins, but I would say once you get there, I think you know the way back," he added.

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