Article by David Istrate – published Tuesday, October 14, 2025 19:36 / Updated Tuesday, October 14, 2025 20:03
Karen Khachanov (29 years old, 10 ATP) returned to Almaty, Kazakhstan, with the thought of defending his trophy won in 2024. In the first days of the week, the Russian athlete participated in the inauguration of a new tennis complex and visited a children with autism.
In 2024 after a final with Gabriel Diallo, score 6-2, 5-7, 6-3Karen Khachanov became a champion at the Almaty Open, the first year after moving the Astana tour. Earlier this week, the 29-year-old player returned to Kazakhstan with the thought of defending his trophy.
Karen Khachanov, visiting a center for autism: “such an important initiative”
As the main favorite, Khachanov participated on Monday, October 13, in the inauguration of the new International Tennis Complex of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation (KTF) in the ALATAU district, along with Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobulli, Alexander Shevchenko and Beibit Zhukayev
Today, the world number 10 has visited the ASYL MIRAS autism Center, along with Hungarian Fabian Marozsan (26 years, 52 ATP). The two played with the children in the center, divided gifts and talked to teachers and parents.
“In Kazakhstan there are educational schools and programs, but not necessarily specialized for these children. Therefore, this initiative is so important. It helps children to adapt, socialize and eventually attend normal schools. I think this is really valuable,” Khachanov said.
“I am a father too. I love children in general. So if I can spend a little time with them and I can inspire them in a way, it is something special to me. Children with autism have different needs and stages of development and they think it is important not to separate them, but to help them integrate and socialize with others. This is great not only for them, but for society in general – and not only here, in Kazakhstan, but everywhere in the world“Added the Russian.
Karen Khachanov will enter the competition directly from “optimals”, to play either with Jan-Lennard Struff (35 years, 98 ATP) or McDonald Macdonald (30 years, 99 ATP). The Titra champion at the Almaty Open has great goals for the end of the year.
I wanted to end the year in the Top 10 and try to reach the Champions Tournament. I keep this in mind; It's a matter of concentration. It's one thing to have an goal and try to work on it, but it's something else to give everything and don't make time for yourself because you want to achieve it.
You have to find the balance between setting your goals and not putting too much pressure on yourself. The last tournaments were not a huge success, but at the same time tennis is so unique because you have the opportunity to change everything every week. Understand where you are, what are you missing and why there are so many tight matches that end with defeat.
Maybe I'm generally tired, both mentally and physically, because I played a lot on the slag, non -stop, until the end of the summer. I also need to think that sooner or later, inevitably, it is a level drop
– Karen Khachanovquoted by Punto de Break
