ATP Tour

Khachanov advances to US Open SFs after Blockx retires

Karen Khachanov advanced to his third major semi-final on Wednesday at the US Open, where Alexander Blockx retired due to injury in the early stages of the third set on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Khachanov led the 21-year-old 6-2, 7-5, 3-2 when the Belgian ended play in his first major quarter-final after receiving multiple medical timeouts for pain in his upper body.

Blockx struggled with a rib injury for long stretches of his four-set, fourth-round win against Francisco Cerundolo, taking painkillers throughout the match. The 28th seed was in visible pain once again in his one-hour, 33-minute meeting with Khachanov and eventually ended the clash after losing his serve in the third set.

"I was preparing really well for this matchup and it was not easy, as from one side I felt like I was dominating from the beginning and then I felt he was struggling more and more and it is a mixed feeling," Khachanov said. "He is suffering and I don't want to scream, 'Come on', but I wanted to keep the energy there. I wish him a speedy recovery. I saw that he was suffering all over his body."

Khachanov will aim to reach his first major final when he meets top seed Alexander Zverev or Botic van de Zandschulp in the semis on Friday. Khachanov is up to No. 26 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, having arrived in New York at No. 50.

It is the third time Khachanov has advanced to the last four at a major and second in New York, having fallen to Casper Ruud in 2022. In 2023, the seven-time tour-level titlist reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open.

"Once you are in the semi-finals, you are thinking about one step forward," Khachanov said. "I will now watch Sascha against Botic and prepare for whoever wins and try to do my best as always."

Khachanov went 16-18 across the first eight months of the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and had dropped to his lowest spot in the PIF ATP Rankings (No. 50) since May 2017. Yet, this fortnight he has looked close to his best. The 30-year-old defeated World No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round and earned an impressive five-set victory against Learner Tien to set up a quarter-final clash with Blockx.

Khachanov was in control throughout his first meeting with Blockx, who was pushed from corner to corner and looked in pain at times. The Belgian received a medical timeout at the end of the second set and could no longer battle on from five games into the third set.

Depsite his painful exit, it has been another breakout week for the 21-year-old, who reached the Madrid semi-finals earlier this year. Blockx was the first Belgian man in history to reach the US Open quarter-finals and the youngest major quarter-finalist from his country in the Open Era (since 1968). He also upset World No. 6 Flavio Cobolli in Flushing Meadows for just his second Top-10 win and is up to No. 27 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Learn more about Blockx here.