Australian Open: Russian’s Karen Khachanov picks humid Hong Kong for stopover, but will he get warm welcome at Olympics?
- Khachanov ‘does not have a lot of information’ about his prospects of competing at the 2024 Games in Paris
- An Australian Open semi-finalist last January, he will use Hong Kong Open as springboard to attempt to go further this time
Two-times grand slam semi-finalist Karen Khachanov said January’s Hong Kong Tennis Open would provide a springboard for his assault on the opening major of 2024 in Australia.
Russian Khachanov, the world No 15, is among a hungry pack trying to overthrow the imperious Novak Djokovic at the pinnacle of the men’s game.
The Australian Open, where Khachanov was a semi-finalist this year, begins on January 14, two weeks after the Hong Kong Open’s New Year’s Day start.
A spine fracture sidelined Khachanov for nearly three months this year, but he roared back on to the circuit by triumphing at September’s Zhuhai Championships, and insisted he was close to cracking the grand slam code.
The 27-year-old was unclear, however, over whether he would be allowed to participate in next year’s Olympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) opted to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals in Paris, but Khachanov, a silver medallist at the last Games in Tokyo, said he had heard nothing concerning his eligibility.
Hong Kong tennis has rolled out the red carpet for Russian and Belarusian players, with Khachanov joined in the draw by compatriot and doubles partner Andrey Rublev, after the two countries supplied 10 of the 32-strong field for the women’s Hong Kong Open in October.
“I had the option to play in Australia before the Australian Open, but I was really excited about the tournament in Hong Kong,” Khachanov told the Post.
“I enjoy the humidity and the surfaces in Asia. The conditions are tough and you need endurance. I have a practice week in Melbourne after Hong Kong, so I want as many matches as possible.
“It is a strong field, and everybody will be pumped to play at the beginning of the year, after all the preparations. I need a little extra to win a grand slam. Recovering from injury, I worked on my speed on the court … and to add variety to my offensive game. I hope these qualities help me achieve bigger things.”
The IOC fudged its decision over the Olympic participation of athletes from Russia, after it illegally invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and its ally Belarus.
Teams from the two nations are barred from the Games, but individual athletes can participate as neutrals if they meet “strict eligibility conditions”. Only six Russians and five Belarusians have so far qualified.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last week intimated “politically motivated artificial conditions” would prevent Russia’s elite performers going to France.
“The Olympics means a lot for me … but I have not heard much about [being allowed to play], everywhere says a little bit different,” Khachanov said.
“I do not know if the IOC will allow [Russian and Belarusian] players. Now, there are only 11 athletes from different sports, and tennis was not mentioned. I do not know about qualification. I do not have a lot of information, but it is a big event, so let’s see if we can play or not.
“Even in normal circumstances, some players from different countries skip the Olympics. We have to see if we are allowed to play, then whether we want to or not.”
Khachanov will play doubles with Rublev in Hong Kong, after the pair – Madrid Masters winners in May – claimed the doubles fans’ favourite honour at the 2023 ATP Awards.
“I had two months doing nothing after the injury, so went from zero physical capacity to being on court with a racquet, and everything hurt,” he said.
“I am really happy I can play pain-free, give my best and continue doing what I love.”
