Khachanov breezes past McDonald for winning start

Sixth seed Karen Khachanov of Russia on Monday sailed into round two of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open with a straight-sets win over Mackenzie McDonald of the US as former champion Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain braced for a similar positive start at the $1.2mn tournament. Khachanov, 25, battled well from the baseline to carve out a 7-6 (3), 6-3 in 1 hour 25 minutes on the Centre Court. By virtue of yesterday’s win, Khachanov leads McDonald 3-0 in head-to-head meetings while improving to 8-4 for this season.
The Russian, who broke into the top-10 for the first time in 2019, on Monday cracked eight aces in his impressive win that was wrapped up under lights at the iconic Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex.
“It was a tricky test, the first round,” Khachanov said yesterday. “That’s true, it was my first match here that went well because in my two earlier outings here I couldn’t win and I am really happy to win. I am also happy to see the crowds. I had two weeks off after the Australian Open and that helped,” he added.
Khachanov, the silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympic Games last year, will now meet the winner from today’s match between David Goffin of Belgium and Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland for a place in the third round.
Meanwhile second seed Bautista Agut yesterday sounded confident ahead of his first match tomorrow. The Spaniard will meet the winner of the match involving former champion Andy Murray – who is playing with a wildcard – and Japan’s Taro Daniel scheduled for today.
Bautista Agut, the 33-year-old Davis Cup winner for Spain in 2019 just days after his father passed away, lifted the Qatar ExxonMobil Open three years ago before losing to Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in final
Doha last year.
“Yes, of course I like this tournament. I think it’s great for my game,” Bautista Agut said yesterday. “I really enjoy playing here in Doha. I think the conditions are very nice to show some good tennis,” the Spaniard added.
Echoing top seed Denis Shapovalov’s sentiments from Sunday, Bautista Agut said the Doha field had many players with potential for winning the title this week. Shapovalov is joined by two-time Qatar winner Murray, former US Open champion Marin Cilic of Croatia and defending champion Basilashvili.
“It’s also a very special 250 event. They always get really good players in the draw, and it’s very special to be here,” Bautista Agut said.
When asked about Spain’s chances at the Qatar FIFA World Cup later this year, Batista Agut said yesterday: “Yes, I think they (Spain’s football team) are doing very well. It’s a very young team. When I see their matches, I feel the intensity. I feel the passion, the passion of the group. I think Luis Enrique is a great coach. I think he’s doing a great job. Well, just wishing them a great event at the World Cup (in Qatar).”
When asked if he would be coming back to Qatar, he said: “I don’t think I have time enough to come, no (smiling)? But of course if I’m here, around the World Cup, I will watch some games.”
Earlier yesterday, Korean star Soonwoo Kwon overcame an ace blitz from American qualifier Christopher Eubanks to reach the second round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Kwon won 7-6 (6), 1-6, 6-4 in almost two hours.
It was the first meeting between the two players. The 24-year-old Korean – ranked 55 – sealed his win despite 15 aces from the 6`7” tall American.
In the day’s first clash yesterday, Alex Molcan also took three sets to reach the second round. Molcan from Slovak Republic clinched the first meeting against Christopher O’Connell, winning 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6),
6-4 in 2 hours and 35 minutes. Molcan fired 4 aces compared to 9 by the 27-year-old Australian.
Moclan will now play the top seed Shapovalov in the second round. Shapovalov yesterday managed his first official workout in Qatar when he teamed up with India’s Rohan Bopanna in the doubles to beat Molcan and Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic 7-5, 4-6, 10-6. Basilashvili joined hands with Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to beat Ruusuvuori and Elias Ymer of Sweden 6-1, 7-5 in their doubles match.
Also advancing to the second round in the singles was Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp who beat Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano in straight sets yesterday. Van de Zandschulp won 6-2, 7-6 (5) in 93 minutes. In the day’s final match yesterday, fifth seed Daniel Evans of Great Britain beat Egor Gerasimov of Belarus 6-4, 6-4 in 91 minutes.