Published 01/27/2023, 12:06 AM EST
Karen Khachanov, the Russian tennis star, recently made his bold prediction about his future in the sport come true. He had stated that he could be a “dark horse” even being ranked 15 or 20 in the world. At the time, many dismissed his statement as nothing more than bravado, but as it turns out, Khachanov was right on the money.
In the early stages of the 2023 tennis season, Khachanov has already begun to make good on his promise. With a string of impressive performances, fans have seen him climb the ranks. He has put him in contention for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles- the In the early stages of the 2023 tennis season, Khachanov has already begun to make good on his promise. With a string of impressive performances, fans have seen him climb the ranks. He has put him in contention for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles- the Australian Open
Karen Khachanov makes his prediction come true at the 2023 Australian Open
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Khachanov’s journey to the top of the tennis world has been anything but easy. Despite early success, Khachanov struggled to make the transition to the professional ranks, and it wasn’t until his early twenties that he began to establish himself as a player to watch. In the viral Instagram video, the Russian spoke,” Sometimes I mean, you can be the dark horse even being I don’t know 15 or 20 in the world, right? So I would say myself, I’ll put it in that list.”
Aug 11, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Karen Khachanov of Russia reacts after defeating Aslan Karatsev of Russia in third-round play in the National Bank Open at Aviva Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
It was during this time that Khachanov began to make a name for himself as a “dark horse” in the sport. Despite being ranked outside the top 20, he consistently managed to defeat higher-ranked players and make deep runs in tournaments. This earned him a reputation as a player who could never be counted out, no matter the odds.
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But despite his success, Khachanov still had his eyes set on the sport’s biggest prize: a Grand Slam title. And it was at the Australian Open that he finally made his breakthrough. In a tournament filled with upsets and surprises, Khachanov managed to navigate his way to the semifinals, where he faced off against the heavily favored opponent.
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His story serves as an inspiration to anyone who has ever been told they can’t achieve their goals. It also serves as a reminder that anything is possible if you’re willing to put in the work.
The Russian has had an incredible run at the Australian Open
Khachanov has reached back-to-back Grand Slam semi-finals. He had also made it to this stage at the 2022 US Open. He will face either Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round of the Australian Open. During his match with Korda, Khachanov was leading 7-6(5) 6-3 3-0 when Korda was forced to retire due to an injury.
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This injury greatly affected Korda’s swings during the match, despite his efforts to continue playing. Khachanov’s confidence grew as a result of Korda’s setback and the match’s momentum shifted in his favor. Share your thoughts about the tennis ace in your comments below.