Grand Slam semi-finalist Karen Khachanov falls at first hurdle at Hong Kong Open

HONG KONG: Grand Slam semi-finalist Karen Khachanov slumped to a three-set defeat in his first singles match of the season at the Hong Kong Open on Wednesday.

Second seed and world number 15 Khachanov, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals a year ago, was thwarted in his preparations for this year’s first Grand Slam by a second-round 7-6 (7/2), 2-6, 6-2 loss to Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori.

Russia’s Khachanov, who had a bye into the second round, struggled for consistency and only found his range when he rattled off four games in a row to take the second set.

But Ruusuvuori, who came from a set down to beat France’s Benjamin Bonzi in the first round, regrouped and was always in control in the decider as he broke twice to run out the winner in 2hr 23min.

Third seed Frances Tiafoe had no such problems as he enjoyed comfortable win against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 7-6 (7/4). American third seed Tiafoe, a US Open semi-finalist in 2022, needed just 92 minutes to book his place in the last eight.

Tiafoe will now face rising Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng, who recorded his second big upset win of the week to reach the quarter-finals.

The 18-year-old world number 183, who likes to be called “Jerry”, outlasted the Dutch world number 50 Botic van de Zandschulp 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/2) in a three-and-a-half hour battle of attritional tennis.

Shang will be looking for a third giant-killing of the week against Tiafoe after also coming from a set down to knock out seventh seed and world number 33 Laslo Djere of Serbia in the first round. Agencies

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