The Russian Karen Khachanov, seeded number 1, eliminated the American Sebastian Korda on Monday and will face the Japanese Yoshiito Nishioka in the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Zhuhai (China) on Tuesday. Khachanov, 15th in the ATP, defeated Korda in two sets (7-5, 6-4) in the semi-final.
The 27-year-old has four titles to his name on the circuit, the last dating back to the Masters 1000 in Paris in October 2018. Khachanov had five defeats in a row in the semi-finals of a tournament. The Russian has been injured for a long time this season after suffering a stress fracture in his back following his participation at Roland Garros.
To return to success, Khachanov will have to dominate Yoshihito Nishioka, seeded number 8 in the Chinese tournament and defeater of Russian Aslan Karatsev (6-4, 6-4). The 27-year-old Japanese will have the opportunity to win a third title in his career after Seoul in 2022 and Shenzhen in 2018. The last match between the two men dates from the Australian Open in January, when Khachanov won in the round of 16 6-0, 6-0, 7-6 (7/4) before reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Major.