Damien Kayat previews Karen Khachanov vs Jiri Lehecka and Alex Zverev vs Cameron Norrie in selected round of 16 matches of the Erste Bank Open on the 25th of October 2023.
2023 ATP Tour
ATP 500
Erste Bank Open0
Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria (Indoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 16 Matches – 25th October
Karen Khachanov 53/100 | Jiri Lehecka 29/20
It’s really hard to know what to expect from 27-year-old Russian Karen Khachanov this week. Despite a mid-season injury scare, the gritty Russian baseliner has compiled an extremely impressive campaign. He showed his class in Melbourne, reaching his 2nd career Grand Slam semi-final at the Aussie Open.
He followed that up with a couple of impressive Masters 1000 showings, reaching the semi-finals in Miami before a quarterfinal run in Madrid. He once again demonstrated his Grand Slam mettle with a dogged quarterfinal run at Roland Garros. He was forced to miss Wimbledon due to a stress fracture and his form since returning has been erratic.
He has been eliminated in the first round in three of his last five events. But he also won his first title in five years at the Zhuhai Championships. He just brushed aside the plucky Roman Safiullin in straight-sets and we all know how dangerous the Russian can be on indoor hardcourts.
Three of his five career titles have come on these surfaces (including his unheralded run to the 2018 Paris Masters title).
Czech youngster Jiri Lehecka has been similarly exasperating in recent weeks. Lehecka- much like Khachanov- started the year in fantastic fashion, reaching his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Aussie Open.
He then proved that performance was no fluke with victory over Andrey Rublev in the Qatar Open (he would ultimately reach the semi-finals). Results dried up after that but he once again impressed on the big stage with a 4th round run at Wimbledon.
His schizophrenic form continued: he reached his maiden ATP final at Winston-Salem amidst a host of early exits. In fact, Lehecka came into this event on the back of three successive defeats. The Czech will be pleased with the way he successfully defused the big-serving Wolff in his opener.
Lehecka hits the ball well off both wings and will need to remain patient against the infamously durable Khachanov.
Verdict: Lehecka to win in three – 11/4
Khachanov won their only previous encounter with ease, outmaneuvering the Czech in straight-sets during his Miami Open semi-final run this year. But that result came when the Russian was operating at peak efficiency.
I think there has been enough evidence of late to opt for a shock upset here. Khachanov struggled against the virtually unknown Beibit Zhukayev in Shanghai. He then inexplicably went down to Popyrin in Tokyo. Lehecka has shown the capacity to take down big names and he looked really solid against Wolff.
Alex Zverev 26/100 | Cameron Norrie 26/10
Regardless of what you make of all his off-court drama- you can’t help but admire Zverev’s determination in coming back from that horror injury suffered at last year’s French Open. Sure, it took him some time to settle into action following his return to the court.
But the imperious German has been splendid since a 2nd consecutive Roland Garros semi-final run. He won his first title since 2021 at the Halle Open. He reached the semi-finals in Cincinnati prior to a respectable quarterfinal run at Flushing Meadows. He then claimed his 2nd title of the season at the Chengdu Open.
But maybe the physical toll of this comeback season has bitten back. Zverev has picked up arguably his worst two defeats of the season in recent outings (he lost to Safiullin in Shanghai and Jordan Thompson in Tokyo). Those results have put his place in the ATP Finals in jeopardy and he will be desperate for a strong showing in an event he won back in 2021. He started well enough, easily dismantling Ofner in his opener.
Next up for the German is out of form Brit Cameron Norrie. Norrie has just been nowhere after a very encouraging start to the season (he won the biggest title of his career in Rio).
But he has been pretty dreadful of late, losing seven of his last ten matches coming into this tournament. The hyperactive baseliner seems to be feeling the effects years of near-consistent tennis. You have to remember that Norrie isn’t a blaster; his victories almost always require maximum effort.
He doesn’t blow players off the court, rather relying on cunning and exhausting defensive skills. Perhaps his opening round struggle against Milosic was what he needed to remind himself that he still has the ability to wear opponents down.
Verdict: Zvederev to win in three – 51/20
Zverev has absolutely dominated Norrie 3-0 in their head-to-head rivalry. In fact, the German is yet to drop a set against the nuggetty counterpuncher. I think that could change in this encounter. Zverev has looked shaky in recent weeks and Norrie may draw a bit of confidence out of that gruelling win against Milosic. But I ultimately think Zverev will prevail in three sets (especially with the ATP Finals in mind).
