Karen Khachanov needed five sets to return to the US Open quarterfinals. On Monday, September 7, the Russian defeated Learner Tien 7-5, 4-6, 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-4 in three hours and 50 minutes in Louis Armstrong Stadium. The result ended the American No. 14 seed's campaign.
The match changed direction after Khachanov's opening-set lead. Tien took the second set and won the third-set tiebreak 8-6, moving within one set of a place in the last eight. Khachanov answered with a 6-1 fourth set and completed the comeback in the fifth: the final two sets added up to 12 games to five for the winner.
The tournament's figures show the scale of the challenge. Khachanov had conceded only 27 games across the first three rounds; against Tien, he lost 23 in a single match. He nevertheless secured his second quarterfinal appearance in New York, having previously reached that stage in 2022.
His run already included a significant win. In the second round, Khachanov eliminated third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Now the unseeded entrant has also overcome the tournament's No. 14 seed to stay in contention.
His next opponent will be Alexander Blockx. The No. 28 seed from Belgium advanced by beating Francisco Cerundolo in four sets. At 21, Blockx is making his first appearance in the US Open main draw and has already reached a milestone for his country.
According to the US Open's official statistical review, Blockx is the first Belgian man to reach the tournament's quarterfinals in the Open Era. The next match therefore pairs a newcomer to this stage in New York with an opponent returning to it after four years.
Sources: USOpen.org — Khachanov vs Tien match report, second-round coverage, Alexander Blockx profile and fourth-round statistical review. Videos: the official US Open Tennis Championships channel.