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If you don't want to see the results yet, and want to catch up with the highlights, stop scrolling now! (If these links have been taken down by the ATP, tap the ‘view in browser’ button at the top of this email and there should be updated links):

Djokovic 🎥 Khachanov (updated link)

RESULTS 🎾

💥 = Beatdown \\ 🤕 = Injury \\ ‼️ = Upset

Featured Matches:

Khachanov d Djokovic: 7-5, 6-4 ‼️

Key Moments & 📊’s:

Set 1: Both players started well, coming through their opening service games without too much trouble. But with Khachanov serving at 1*-2, Novak manufactured 3 break points at 0-40, thanks to 2 Khachanov errors and some incredible Novak defence. Two unreturnable serves saved the first two, and a brilliant forehand winner saved the 3rd. But another error set up another BP, and this time Khachanov could only find the tramlines. Novak up a break 3*-1.

Set 1: Khachanov responded immediately, creating a break point in the next game with a nice backhand pass, after a clever sliced forced a short volley from Novak. Djokovic then missed a forehand, and the match was back on serve. 2*-3.

Set 1: With Novak serving at 3-3, Khachanov caught fire, winning a cat and mouse mouse for 0-15, and then crushing a forehand passing shot for 0-30. Djokovic responded well though, playing solid tennis to get himself out of the game.

Set 1: Khachanov then had to serve to to stay in the set at 4*-5, and got into a 0-30 hole. But four absolutely world class points in a row, aided by crushing groundstrokes, saved him and evened up the score to 5-5. Novak looked like he may be struggling physically.

Set 1: Once again after a tough service game, Khachanov responded brilliantly, creating a break point with Novak serving at 5-5, and converting it with a sublime backhand pass down the line. The Russian would serve for the first set.

Set 1: A double fault, followed by a forehand unforced error, wasn’t the best way for Khachanov to start serving for the opener. But he got to 15-30 with a wonderful forehand down the line, 30-30 with a nice volley, and then set up a set point with a crushing forehand down the line. Khachanov then boomed down a big serve to take a surprise one set lead.

Set 1 📊’s: Fortune favoured the brave in the opening set with Khachanov hitting 18 winners to 20 unforced errors, and Novak hitting just 5 winners to 11 errors. Khachanov’s forehand in particular doing most of the damage at 12 winners. Points under 5 shots was dead even at 19 all. But Khachanov did very well in the longer rallies, winning points over 5 shots by 22 to Novak’s 17, with some stellar defence/patience. Novak carried on his great 2nd serve points won performance from his quarter and semi finals, winning 60% in the opener, but the surprise was that his 1st serve won % was just 57%. This showed how well Khachanov was returning. Novak’s avg 2nd serve speed was also 6kph lower in the opening set vs his match yesterday with Federer.

Set 2: At 1-1, Novak looked tired and offered up a few unfamiliar errors to set up 2 break points. But some impressive serving got him back to Deuce. Another break point came about after yet another brilliant forehand pass from Khachanov. And a tired Novak backhand into the net converted the break. Khachanov up 2*-1.

Set 2: Novak got to deuce with Khachanov serving a 3*-2, after the serb hit a fantastic drop volley. But more clutch, big serving from Khachanov got him out of the game for a 4-2* lead. The Russian’s serving to this point in the 2nd set had been impeccable.

Set 2: Khachanov then had a chance to put the match to bed, holding 2 double break points at 2*-4. But the Russian looked a bit tight for the first time in the match, hitting two unforced errors in a row. Another break point came and went with Novak saving it with a un-returnable first serve. Djokovic held.

Set 2: Serving for the title at 5*-4, Khachanov sent a message by winning a 12 stroke rally, but then Novak responded, winning an epic point of his own with a huge forehand for 15-15. But once again Khachanov came up with big serving and big forehands to comfortably close out the match. A stunning win, a first Masters 1000 title. More will be coming Khachanov’s way if he continues this level.

Overall 📊: Incredible consistency of aggression from Khachanov. The Russian finished with 31 (17 forehand) winners to 27 unforced errors, Novak with 18 winners to 24 errors. One of the big reasons Khachanov was able to maintain such aggression was his banner serving performance. In the 2nd set especially, he landed a ludicrous 85% of his 1st serve in, and only had to play 4 points on 2nd serve in that set (winning 3 of them). Novak’s 2nd serve, the performance of which he consistently leads the tour (along with Nadal), got blown apart by Khachanov’s return in the 2nd set, the Russian winning 62% of points when Djokovic missed his first serve. Khachanov & Djokovic ended up winning the same number of points under 5 shots: 38. But Khachanov dominated points over five shots, 35 to Novak's 26, thanks to the Russian's brilliant defence and Novak's bad day stamina-wise. Rare for a match to be won in the latter metric rather than the former. As for Novak, his cold/flu, combined with his tough back-to-back three setters vs Cilic and Federer, looked to have taken all his energy. The Serb wasn’t at his best today, and this result will do very little to affect his No.1 player in the world status.

SHOTS OF THE DAY 😮

— A sign of things to come, Khachanov resisting pressure on serve by coming up with a big forehand. What makes this shot so impressive is that Khachanov had to quickly change from his serving grip to his extreme western forehand grip. Many players with a similar preparation would have struggled to hit such a pure forehand on the run.

— Novak coming up with a brilliantly disguised drop shot.

— Khachanov SO impressive today under pressure. Down break point (early in the 1st set), finds this huge forehand.

— Big backhand - forehand combo from Khachanov. Takes the backhand so early to create the space, and looks so solid on that side technique-wise.

—Khachnov’s willingness to mix up the play in the 1st set was impressive. Djokovic had no idea this drop shot was coming. The Russian’s court IQ is higher than his regular baseline style suggests.

— Unreal forehand pass from Khachanov.

— This 4-5 game was the key to the 1st set. Khachanov was under a lot of pressure but came up with some amazing tennis to get out of the 0-30 hole. Another forehand winner at a crucial time.

— ANOTHER ONE. Again, down 0-30, comes up with an incredible forehand.

— Khachanov displaying the full range of his skills. Gets down so nice and low for this volley. great technique.

— No big deal, just another Khachanov forehand to set up a break point. Djokovic will be frustrated with the depth of the approach.

— Everything was dropping in for the Russian.

— Djokovic finally had something to celebrate. A wonderful, touch volley.

— Novak’s last hurrah. A gruelling 17 shot rally ending with a fantastic forehand.

— Novak went long with a backhand and we had a first time Masters 1000 winner. What a performance from Khachanov.

INTERVIEW & PRESS BEST BITS 🎤

Khachanov post win: (Full Interview 🎥)

“You're (Novak) an inspiration. It was so good to share the court with you...” (On court interview) “I hope one day we can catch Novak on what he’s achieving. It will be dififcult but I will try.” (On court interview) “One thing that with Novak you cannot just go to the net because he has unbelievable passing shots. You have to really prepare your coming through. You have to really sort out the right shots when you can step in and go to the net.” Source



“Of course the best scenario if I'm hitting left-right and I'm coming to the net with a shorter ball, sometimes it was not possible, but sometimes I did it really well. But in general, my game is aggressive and I have to try to step in more and to play the way I played, actually.” Source

Novak post-loss (Video Of Presser 🎥):

“I didn't feel well but all credit to Karen, he will have a great career.” (On court interview) “I'm satisfied of course and I'm going to be No. 1 tomorrow officially. And what more can I ask for? I mean, I won 20-plus matches in a row and had a most amazing last five months of the year.” Source “All the credit to him (Khachanov). He deserves it. He's a young player up and coming. But already established player, top player. And he showed great quality today and he showed why we're going to see a lot of him in the future.” Source

EXTRAS 🔍📊🎤

— Karen’s extreme preparation and full-western grip. The wrist being this cocked in the preparation is quite rare (hi Gulbis!), along with the racquet face nearly facing backwards until the forward momentum of the swing starts. Lots of upward momentum required (hence the follow-through regularly finishing over his head), in order to create the spin/margin to offset how closed the racquet face is until the moment of contact. There is the possibility that such an elaborate prep will compromise his upside going forward, especially on faster, lower bouncing courts. But Khachanov has great timing and footwork for such a big (6ft 6) dude, which will go a long way to covering up the over-complicated technique.

— What a week for Khachanov. Breakthrough doesn’t cover it. The Russian will also climb to a career high No.11 when he rankings are updated tomorrow.

— Your 2018 Masters 1000 winners.

— Putting into context how tough it’s been to beat Novak on a hard court, in a final.

The Sunday Times Magazine conducted a pretty wide ranging interview with Federer: Link

A few excerpts:

“I don’t like them (protein shakes). Yes, they might help me like an ice bath might, but I don’t enjoy an ice bath. I’d rather have a warm shower and stretch. The mind needs to be happy.” “It’s a melange of all things, but at some point, I feel like Serena should have walked away (at the US Open vs Osaka). She did, but she went too far. She should have walked earlier. It’s a little bit excusable. The umpire maybe should not have pushed her there. It’s unfortunate, but an incredible case study.” “In one sentence, I’d say that it’s (prize money) justified because of the revenue the tournament makes. The players make 8% [of the total revenue]. It’s not like we’re saying £2m for the winner isn’t enough. We’re arguing that the first-round qualifier only makes maybe a few thousand. We’re talking about making sure that, at the lower level, more people can survive. I’d also like slams to take part in the player pension fund.” “In our biggest moment of victory, we’re all alone. You don’t have anybody to hug. You shake hands with the umpire and then there’s this moment when you think, ‘I wish I was with somebody right now.’ Then it just breaks — the wall of being a superhero. You realise you’ve achieved your dream. In football, a guy comes over to you and says, ‘Come on, buddy, let’s get to the changing room, show how tough you are.’ We’re alone. There’s no football chant, just polite applause. It’s about you, the person, not a club. It can be very moving. ”

Check out the full interview.

NEW BALLS PLEASE 👀

— There is regular hyperbole around Novak smashing/tossing racquets. It's almost always blown out of proportion by the press. But this was a bit lucky. He didn’t make clean contact with the swing, but if he had this could have been ugly. Ballboy: “WTF”.

— Context

— Your Paris Masters 2018 champion. Karen had no idea what to do with the ‘Tree’.

— I hope you’ve enjoyed the Paris Masters coverage! Next issue? Tomorrow, for the ATP Finals Draw - Preview, Breakdown & Predictions (subscribers only).

‼️This is the free weekly edition of the Racquet. To get these recaps daily, to your inbox, for Masters 1000’s and Slams, you can subscribe here. The first month is free so you can see if it’s worth the $.‼️

Subscribe - first month FREE

GAME, SET, MATCH 👋

— The Racquet is created, and written, by Matt.

— You can find me on Twitter here.

See you tomorrow for the ATP Finals Draw Breakdown.

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