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World no. 11 Karen Khachanov welcomed his second child a couple of days ago, a son named Mikael. Karen missed Wimbledon due to a stress fracture and a partial fracture in his sacrum S1, staying with his wife Veronika and sharing great news with his fans after they became parents for the second time.
The Russian hopes to compete again in August and prepare for the US Open, the season's last Major. Karen is 23-11 in 2023, reaching the Australian Open and Miami semi-finals and adding quarter-finals in Madrid and Roland Garros.
Khachanov played well in Melbourne, beating Frances Tiafoe and Sebastian Korda en route to the last four. He met Stefanos Tsitsipas in a battle for the final and fell in four sets despite a great effort. Karen beat Stefanos in Miami and reached the semi-final, losing to Daniil Medvedev in three sets.
Carlos Alcaraz halted Khachanov in the Madrid Masters quarter-final, and the Russian embraced another notable run at Roland Garros.
Karer Khachanov and his wife Veronika became parents for the second time.
Karen prevailed in the opening match from two sets to love down and used a favorable draw to enter the last eight and face Novak Djokovic.
They battled for three hours and 38 minutes, and Novak prevailed 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4. Khachanov made a rock-solid start, winning the opener and not losing serve until set number three! Novak lost serve two times from ten chances offered to his rival, with seven of those coming in the opener.
He broke Karen four times from eight opportunities to emerge at the top and move into the last four. The Serb fired 57 winners and 42 unforced errors, staying composed and hoping for more in the next round. The Russian lost six points behind the initial shot in the opening set and claimed it with a break in game five.
They stayed neck and neck in the second set and introduced a tie break. With no room for errors, Novak clinched it 7-0 to gain a boost and level the overall score. Djokovic took charge and stormed over Khachanov in set number three, taking it 6-2 and moving closer to the finish line.
Novak grabbed two breaks in the fourth set, enough to propel him over the top despite a late setback. Karen pulled the break back in game eight before Novak clinched the final eight points to move over the top. Khachanov experienced an injury and missed the entire grass swing, staying with his wife and welcoming their second child.