Winner in 2018, Karen Khachanov qualified for a new semi-final of the Rolex Paris Masters by dominating Grigor Dimitrov (6-2, 6-3) on Friday. A late winner over Arthur Rinderknech the day before, the Bulgarian did not seem physically at his best to stand up to the striking power of the Russian, always dangerous on fast surfaces.
Not bothered in the least by his opponent’s play, particularly by his backhand slice, Khachanov unfolded and quickly took control of a one-sided match (he had no break point to defend in the match). Broken on his first two service games, Dimitrov was immediately in trouble. He held up a little better in the second set before collapsing by giving up his last two service games. Khachanov will face Ugo Humbert, who defeated Jordan Thompson earlier, in the semi-finals.
