Defending Champion Khachanov Dumped Out Of Paris Masters

Karen Khachanov’s Paris Masters title defence ended at the first hurdle on Tuesday as the Russian fell 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-5 to German Jan-Lennard … Continue reading Defending Champion Khachanov Dumped Out Of Paris Masters

By Ignatius Igwe

Updated October 29, 2019

Russia’s Karen Khachanov returns the ball to Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff during their men’s singles tennis match on day two of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 – Rolex Paris Masters – indoor tennis tournament at The AccorHotels Arena in Paris on October 29, 2019. Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

Karen Khachanov’s Paris Masters title defence ended at the first hurdle on Tuesday as the Russian fell 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-5 to German Jan-Lennard Struff.

Khachanov beat four top-10 players, including Novak Djokovic in the final, to win the 2018 tournament, but was knocked out after an indifferent second-round display this time around.

The loss ends the world number eight’s slim hopes of qualifying for next month’s ATP Tour Finals in London.

Struff, ranked 36th, will next face either former Bercy winner Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Italian tenth seed Matteo Berrettini in the last 16.