In an unexpected turn of events at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship, Britain’s Dan Evans was defeated by Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the opening round. Despite having a strong track record against Khachanov—winning all five of their previous matches, including an epic five-and-a-half-hour clash at last year’s US Open—Evans couldn’t find his stride this time around.
Entering the tournament with a wildcard, Evans was unable to replicate past success. Khachanov, currently ranked 24th in the world, dominated the match with a decisive 6-1, 6-3 victory, wrapping up the encounter in a swift one hour and 20 minutes.
Looking ahead, Khachanov is set to challenge either Greece’s fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the next round, promising another exciting matchup for tennis fans.
