Karen Khachanov, who turned professional in 2013, has formed strong connections with several tennis events over the years. Speaking this week at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, where he has competed four times and won the title in 2024, the 28-year-old noted that finding comfort in a sport that requires constant travel is rare but valuable.
Khachanov explained that his schedule is shaped by personal connections to certain events. “After years on tour, I know which tournaments suit me,” he told ATPTour.com. “There are still tournaments I’ve never played, but I tend to return to the ones where I’ve had good results. It’s about the relationships you build with those tournaments and the memories from playing well there.”
While Khachanov is well-acquainted with the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, where he has an 8-3 record, he faces a new challenge this year. After winning the tournament as an ATP 250 event last year, it has been upgraded to an ATP 500 event. This change brings a tougher draw, with Khachanov set to face World No. 6 Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 Doha champion, in the first round.
“This year, as a 500 event, I’m not seeded,” Khachanov said. “That means I could face any top player right away, like Medvedev. It’s going to be a tough match for both of us in the first round. I’m doing my best to prepare and get back to the form I had at the end of last year.”
At any ATP Tour event, facing top-level competition early is common, but each tournament offers different challenges and conditions. Khachanov shared that he has a personal method for choosing events, with the quality of facilities being a key factor.
“The courts, the recovery areas, and food on-site are always the top priority for me,” he said. “But it’s also about the city. A good hotel in a great location makes a difference, though ultimately, the amount of time spent on the court outweighs time spent in the hotel. If you’re on court a lot, you want better facilities around it.”
Khachanov has experienced significant success in Asia, where he has won four of his seven tour-level titles. These victories span across China, Qatar, and Kazakhstan. However, he doesn’t believe any specific reason makes a player feel comfortable at a particular tournament, as playing conditions vary so much.
“It’s about the conditions or the energy of the place,” Khachanov explained. “Tennis is unique in that way. The conditions can change the outcome of a match. We play on different surfaces, with different balls, and in different time zones. These factors can all influence results in ways that you don’t see in other sports.”
For Khachanov and Medvedev, the most important thing will be the result on Tuesday. Both players have struggled with form in 2025 so far. Khachanov, a former World No. 8, is 2-3 this season, having lost in the first round last week in Marseille. He is realistic about the need to improve his game to get back on track.
“I haven’t been playing great in my recent matches,” he said. “But there’s always room for improvement. We both want to improve our game, and hopefully, it’ll be a great match for the fans. The player who performs better this week will win.”
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