Russian tennis star Karen Khachanov, currently ranked 15th in the world, has addressed questions about how changing weather conditions affected his performance during his second-round victory at the Rome Masters.
Khachanov secured a win over Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko to advance in the prestigious tournament. The match took place under shifting skies, with sunny conditions at the start giving way to overcast skies as play continued.
Speaking to journalist Daniil Salnikov from Чемпионат after the match, Khachanov was asked whether the weather changes during the contest caused him any concern or disrupted his rhythm on court.
The Russian player revealed that rain had not been forecast for the day, though he acknowledged that overcast conditions always carry the possibility of precipitation. Despite the changing environment, Khachanov maintained that weather was far from his mind during the encounter.
"Honestly, I wasn't thinking about it at all," Khachanov explained. "Yes, there was a little sunshine at the beginning of the match, then it became cloudier and the conditions became a bit heavier. But I didn't even look at that, I didn't focus on it."
Instead, Khachanov emphasized his commitment to maintaining concentration on the tactical aspects of his game. The 15th-ranked player stressed the importance of directing mental energy toward executing his game plan rather than worrying about external factors beyond his control.
"I tried to focus more on the game, on what I needed to do, and to keep my focus on that rather than on all the other circumstances," he added.
The victory propels Khachanov further into the Rome Masters draw as he continues his campaign at one of the ATP Tour's most prestigious clay-court events. His ability to block out distractions and maintain mental composure underlines the professionalism that has kept him among the world's top-ranked players.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.