Karen Khachanov is through to the last 16 in Cincinnati. The Russian came to Cincinnati following the Canada Masters final in Toronto, adjusting his game to the new conditions and passing the first two obstacles.
Karen faced Jenson Brooksby in the third round and earned a 6-3, 6-3 victory in an hour and 24 minutes. The 14th seed outplayed his rival behind the first and second serve, saving two of three break points.
Brooksby gave away 46% of the points in his games and suffered four breaks from seven chances presented to his opponent. Karen landed 11 winners and 19 unforced errors.
He welcomed 36 mistakes from the young American and controlled the scoreboard. The Russian had the upper hand in the shortest and mid-range exchanges. He led 17-8 in service winners and outplayed his opponent from the baseline.
Both players served well in the opening six games of the encounter for 3-3 after 22 minutes. Jenson stepped in on the return in game seven and generated a break chance.
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Karen saved it with a service winner and held for 4-3. The 14th seed made a push on the return in game eight and welcomed the rival's backhand error for a break at 15 and the advantage.
Khachanov held at 30 at 5-3, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 37 minutes. The Russian gained a boost and provided two breaks at the beginning of the second set.
Jenson missed a forehand in the third game and fell 3-0 behind before earning a break chance in the next one with a backhand down the line winner. The Russian saved it and held for 4-0.
The American made another push on the return in game six and pulled one break back when his rival netted a routine backhand. Karen held at love in game eight for a 5-3 advantage and kept the pressure on the other side.
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Khachanov generated four match points on the return in game nine and seized the last after the rival's error for a place in the next round. His next rival? Likely, Alexander Zverev, who leads 6-4, 5-4 against Brandon Nakashima.
