Tennis

Karen Khachanov's recent surge on the ATP Tour has been nothing short of remarkable. After claiming the title in Almaty, he reached the final in Vienna, defeating the likes of Brandon Nakashima, Matteo Berrettini, and Alex De Minaur.At the Rolex Paris Masters, Khachanov has continued his impressive run, dispatching Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Alexei Popyrin, and Grigor Dimitrov. His victory over Dimitrov, despite the latter's diminished fitness, was particularly impressive.Khachanov's dominance stems from his exceptional serving and returning abilities. Against Mpetshi Perricard and Popyrin, he won three of four sets without tiebreakers, showcasing his prowess as a returner. These victories bode well for his upcoming clash with Ugo Humbert, another formidable server.Humbert, too, has been in fine form, defeating Carlos Alcaraz and Jordan Thompson in straight sets. The Frenchman's home-court advantage in Bercy has fueled his performance, with the crowd propelling him to new heights.However, Khachanov's recent defensive brilliance and his ability to exploit Humbert's backhand with his down-the-line backhand give him an edge. While Humbert's aggressive style has yielded success, it also carries the risk of unforced errors.Despite Humbert's current level, Khachanov's +120 odds suggest a 55% chance of victory for the Frenchman. This assessment undervalues Khachanov's chances, which are significantly higher than a coin flip.

Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov, two towering figures in the tennis world, are set to clash in a highly anticipated fourth-round match at the Miami Open. Both players, standing at 6'6'', possess formidable serves and athletic baseline games.Their last encounter, at the Tokyo Olympics gold-medal match, saw Zverev emerge victorious. However, since then, both players have evolved their games significantly. Zverev aims to reach the quarterfinals for the third time in Miami, while Khachanov seeks to replicate his semifinal run from his previous appearance.In another intriguing matchup, Maria Sakkari faces Elena Rybakina. Despite Sakkari's lone victory against Rybakina, the Greek star cannot be underestimated. She has reached two of the last three BNP Paribas Open finals and is now guided by David Witt, who believes in her abilities.However, Rybakina poses a formidable challenge. With two titles already under her belt this season, she is regaining her form after recovering from an illness. Her victory over Madison Keys in the previous round showcased her ability to win on Hard Rock Stadium.Alex de Minaur and Fabian Marozsan will also face off in a fourth-round clash. Despite Marozsan's straight-sets victory over De Minaur in Shanghai last year, the Australian has made significant strides since then. He has defeated three Top 10 players in six days at the United Cup and leads the ATP in match wins this year.Marozsan, however, has impressed in his Miami Open debut, stunning No. 6 seed Holger Rune in the previous round. Both players are riding a wave of momentum, making their quarterfinal berth a highly contested battle.