A Russian teenager is making waves at this week’s ATP Kremlin Cup which prompted a tennis great to predict that he will become part of the world’s top 20 by 2015.
Former world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov, currently the tournament’s director, said in an interview at the ATP World Tour website that he believes that 17-year old Karen Khachanov is a tennis star in the making.
Khachanov, a 6’6″ Russian phenom, has been making use of his wildcard at this ATP 250 event to full effect by reaching the quarterfinals. The young Russian defeated Albert Ramos of Spain in the first round and upset higher-ranked Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia in the second to book a place in the quarterfinals.
“He will be Top 20 by end of 2015, and that’s my prediction,” Kafelnikov said.
The Kremlin Cup is just the second tour-level event Khachanov has participated. His first one was at the St. Petersburg Open a month ago where he reached the second round.
“It has been a good bonus to see what I can do against the pros,” Khachanov said. “It has given me the confidence and the opportunity to play better. In St. Petersburg, I didn’t really have any pressure. This week, because of the matches that I have played, I am more confident.
“I didn’t really believe I had beaten Tipsarevic. I didn’t over-celebrate as I respect Janko and know that I have to work harder to improve.”
