"I set myself the task of getting to the Final ATP tournament"

The prestigious exhibition tennis tournament "Trophies of Northern Palmyra" was held in St. Petersburg, where stars from Russia, Kazakhstan, as well as the Dutch Tallon Grixpor gathered. Among the most prominent participants is Karen Khachanov, who finished the 2025 season in 18th place in the ranking of the Association of Professional Tennis Players. This year, he reached the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament, as well as the finals of the Masters tournament in Toronto.

In an interview with Izvestia, the 29-year-old athlete praised his performance last season, commented on the chances of a complete lifting of restrictions on Russian tennis players and talked about his friendship with New York Rangers star hockey player Artem Panarin.

"Of course, I took a step forward."

— How often have you been able to come to Russia in recent years?

— I always definitely come twice a year — it's stable. In January after the Australian Open and in September during the preparation period for tournaments in China. I've been able to visit and stay at home for about 16 days. It is clear that it was still possible to fly to Russia before, when the Kremlin Cup and St. Petersburg Open were held here. Now I don't even always train when I'm in my native country, because I spend very little time at home. When I was able to come for a longer period of time, I even prepared for tournaments a little bit here. But, I repeat, due to the fact that Russia has not yet hosted two official competitions, which were held earlier, I spend less time here. Although this year I was in Moscow in July, when I flew to my sister's wedding. I spent two weeks in the capital of our country and was preparing for the American tournament series.

— What changes do you notice in Moscow in recent years when you come to the capital with long breaks?

— Impressions are always great when you come to Russia, not only to Moscow. Of course, I would like to come more often and more often, but due to our profession and the busy season, it doesn't work out. And given all the current difficulties with flights and logistics in general, it becomes quite difficult. But, to be honest, even when my foreign friends come to Russia, they are surprised at how clean everything is in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and how safe, thank God. It's still felt when you arrive. That's for sure in Moscow, but I don't know much about St. Petersburg, because I don't get to walk there very often. But Moscow is just great in terms of walking areas. A lot of social projects are being built in the capital, for example, sports grounds. I heard that a lot of padel courts and tennis courts were opened in the summer. I really like the beautification of the city.

— Can we say that you took a step forward in your tennis career in 2025?

— Of course, I took a step forward. Except that I would like the end of the year to be better. Because I had a very good mid—season, and the stability in the game was present, and the results were good, and I was able to perform better in big tournaments, as I wanted. He returned to the top ten of the ATP rankings, but eventually finished the season in 18th place. Nevertheless, a step forward has been made in the game and results at big tournaments — there are quarterfinals at Grand Slam competitions and the Masters final. You can add this season to my assets.

— The main negative event of the year for Russian men's tennis is our absence from the Final ATP Championship for the first time in a long time due to the decline of Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who had been constantly making their way there in the previous five years. Do you feel like you can make it to the Final next year?

— I sincerely believe in it. I had and still have this goal. Not only for next season, but for the coming years in general. I was already in the top ten of the rating — I went there last season after a few years. Yes, I came in for a while, but I was always there for her. So the question here is how to play for that. More stable, but at the same time having the same great results that I had in 2025. The way things went for me in the middle of the season is, roughly speaking, how you should play the whole season. It's real. And I set this task for myself.

Russians and Medvedev: how was the tennis superstar's return to Russia

The most decorated Russian player performed in his native country for the first time in five years

"It all depends on how politics will develop in the world in general"

— Over the past year, Russian athletes have been allowed to participate in international competitions, including in team disciplines, and recently judoka were allowed to compete under their own flag and anthem. Do you believe that the flag will soon return to tennis players at competitions, and the International Tennis Federation will disband the Russian national team and allow it to the Davis Cup?

— I sincerely believe that this can happen. But, of course, the question is how soon this will happen. I think it all depends on how politics develops in the world in general. This will affect the athletes as well.

— In one of your interviews, you said that you are friends with hockey player Artemy Panarin. How did your friendship with him begin?

— Artemi and I have become really good friends. We met in 2021 in New York during the US Open. We've been communicating ever since. Unfortunately, due to the schedule of his NHL season and mine in tennis, we rarely see each other — only once a year. Because he's in North America all the time, and I ride all over the world. Besides Artemy, I also know other hockey players — Kirill Kaprizov, Mikhail Sergachev, Ilya Kovalchuk, Evgeny Malkin.

— And with Alexander Ovechkin?

— Unfortunately, I haven't managed to cross paths with Ovechkin yet. But I would really like to. I hope it still works out!