Top-Seeded Khachanov Falls, Medvedev Holds Serve as Almaty Quarterfinals Are Set
Defending champion Karen Khachanov fell short in his title defense effort, while Daniil Medvedev joined a star-studded quarterfinal lineup on Thursday evening at the Almaty Arena.
Top-seeded Karen Khachanov was ousted by ever dangerous Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 in two hours and 19 minutes of high octane tennis.
«Tough match,» Struff said. «Karen beat me in the last two, 7-5 in the third and 7-6 in the third, both in Hamburg. All the matches we’ve had have been very tough and this one was as well. I’m very happy to get the win here. The atmosphere was amazing.»
2024 champion Khachanov was bidding to stretch his Almaty winning streak to five, and he looked to be in good stead after taking the opening set and not facing a break point as he headed to a second-set tiebreak.
But 98th-ranked Struff was heating up along the way, executing his serve to perfection, and he took charge in the tiebreak to force the world No.10 to a decider.
The first break point for Struff came one hour and 40 minutes into the contest, early in the third set. He didn’t convert, but quickly earned two more, and made good use of the last one as a fantastic return forced Khachanov to net a forehand and give Struff the 1-0 advantage.
The 35-year-old, now the second oldest quarterfinalist in tournament history, made the break stand up. He saved a break point while serving at 2-1, then survived a four deuce game to hold for 4-2.
Khachanov battled valiantly, and saved three match points while serving at 3-5, but Struff would not be denied. He converted his fourth match point to complete his 13th career Top 10 win, and first in more than two years.
Struff will face Corentin Moutet in the quarterfinals in Friday’s night session in Almaty.
«He’s playing an amazing season,» Struff said of the Frenchman. «In the top 40 right now and he has beaten two good players here – he’s a tricky opponent.»
Hours earlier, in the final match of the day session, former world No.1 Medvedev, who reached the semifinals in Astana in 2022, gained safe passage to the quarterfinals. The 29-year-old exacted a bit of revenge on Australia’s Adam Walton, notching a 7-5, 7-6(0) victory against the player that knocked him out of the Cincinnati Open in three sets in August.
Medvedev was in grave danger in the second set, with Walton having five different chances to take a double-break lead at 4-1. But the world No.14 hung tough and gained confidence at the finish line.
«It was a very tough match, especially the second set and the game at 4-1,» Medvedev said. «It was crucial because then I broke back and managed to get back into the rhythm.»
Medvedev captured the final 11 points of the match to book a quarterfinal with Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan.
«He’s a tough opponent,» Medvedev, who defeated Marozsan in their lone meeting at the 2024 US Open, said. «We only played once, but I know how good he can play – I hope to play some good tennis.»
Michelsen, Mochizuki Reach Quarterfinals
Alex Michelsen came to Almaty haunted by a five-match losing streak. Two days after his debut the 21-year-old American is into the quarterfinals without dropping a single set. The Southern California native ripped 15 winners, didn’t face a break point, won 82 percent of first serve points and closed his 6-3, 6-2 victory over Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in 79 minutes.
«Took some confidence from yesterday’s win and used it today,» said Michelsen. «I’m going to keep competing for every point, just keep playing my game, keep playing front-foot tennis and we’ll see what happens.»
36th-ranked Michelsen, the youngest player remaining in the draw, will face Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki in the quarterfinals.
Mochizuki, bidding to reach his second ATP quarterfinal and first since Tokyo 2023, won five consecutive games from 3-1 down in the opening set, and eventually took out fourth-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi, 6-3, 6-3.
The 22-year-old world No.102 is now up to 92 in the ATP live rankings and has secured a Top 100 debut.
«This one feels like my first time being in the quarterfinals,» Mochizuki said, «because it’s been a while.
«I’m very happy with my performance, first of all. If I do the preparations and do my best on the court, I think the results are coming.»
Mochizuki, former ITF junior No.1, won 11 of the final 14 games against the world No.26 and converted four of five break points to reach the finish line in 64 minutes.
Top-seeded Karen Khachanov was ousted by ever dangerous Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 in two hours and 19 minutes of high octane tennis.
«Tough match,» Struff said. «Karen beat me in the last two, 7-5 in the third and 7-6 in the third, both in Hamburg. All the matches we’ve had have been very tough and this one was as well. I’m very happy to get the win here. The atmosphere was amazing.»
2024 champion Khachanov was bidding to stretch his Almaty winning streak to five, and he looked to be in good stead after taking the opening set and not facing a break point as he headed to a second-set tiebreak.
But 98th-ranked Struff was heating up along the way, executing his serve to perfection, and he took charge in the tiebreak to force the world No.10 to a decider.
The first break point for Struff came one hour and 40 minutes into the contest, early in the third set. He didn’t convert, but quickly earned two more, and made good use of the last one as a fantastic return forced Khachanov to net a forehand and give Struff the 1-0 advantage.
The 35-year-old, now the second oldest quarterfinalist in tournament history, made the break stand up. He saved a break point while serving at 2-1, then survived a four deuce game to hold for 4-2.
Khachanov battled valiantly, and saved three match points while serving at 3-5, but Struff would not be denied. He converted his fourth match point to complete his 13th career Top 10 win, and first in more than two years.
Struff will face Corentin Moutet in the quarterfinals in Friday’s night session in Almaty.
«He’s playing an amazing season,» Struff said of the Frenchman. «In the top 40 right now and he has beaten two good players here – he’s a tricky opponent.»
Hours earlier, in the final match of the day session, former world No.1 Medvedev, who reached the semifinals in Astana in 2022, gained safe passage to the quarterfinals. The 29-year-old exacted a bit of revenge on Australia’s Adam Walton, notching a 7-5, 7-6(0) victory against the player that knocked him out of the Cincinnati Open in three sets in August.
Medvedev was in grave danger in the second set, with Walton having five different chances to take a double-break lead at 4-1. But the world No.14 hung tough and gained confidence at the finish line.
«It was a very tough match, especially the second set and the game at 4-1,» Medvedev said. «It was crucial because then I broke back and managed to get back into the rhythm.»
Medvedev captured the final 11 points of the match to book a quarterfinal with Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan.
«He’s a tough opponent,» Medvedev, who defeated Marozsan in their lone meeting at the 2024 US Open, said. «We only played once, but I know how good he can play – I hope to play some good tennis.»
Michelsen, Mochizuki Reach Quarterfinals
Alex Michelsen came to Almaty haunted by a five-match losing streak. Two days after his debut the 21-year-old American is into the quarterfinals without dropping a single set. The Southern California native ripped 15 winners, didn’t face a break point, won 82 percent of first serve points and closed his 6-3, 6-2 victory over Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in 79 minutes.
«Took some confidence from yesterday’s win and used it today,» said Michelsen. «I’m going to keep competing for every point, just keep playing my game, keep playing front-foot tennis and we’ll see what happens.»
36th-ranked Michelsen, the youngest player remaining in the draw, will face Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki in the quarterfinals.
Mochizuki, bidding to reach his second ATP quarterfinal and first since Tokyo 2023, won five consecutive games from 3-1 down in the opening set, and eventually took out fourth-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi, 6-3, 6-3.
The 22-year-old world No.102 is now up to 92 in the ATP live rankings and has secured a Top 100 debut.
«This one feels like my first time being in the quarterfinals,» Mochizuki said, «because it’s been a while.
«I’m very happy with my performance, first of all. If I do the preparations and do my best on the court, I think the results are coming.»
Mochizuki, former ITF junior No.1, won 11 of the final 14 games against the world No.26 and converted four of five break points to reach the finish line in 64 minutes.
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24.11.2025
KTF press-service
14.11.2025
KTF press-service
