Karen Khachanov is set to face Jesper de Jong in the opening round of the Rotterdam Open, a significant ATP 500 event. The match will be held at Rotterdam Ahoy in the Netherlands on an indoor hard court, delivering the ideal setting for an exciting clash.
Khachanov, who recently advanced to the third round of the Australian Open, initially showed promise with victories over Alex Michelsen and Nishesh Basavareddy. However, he faced an unexpected setback, losing to Luciano Darderi in four sets despite being the favorite. This match highlighted Khachanov’s struggle for consistency since reaching the final at the Canadian Open last summer.
On the other hand, Jesper de Jong has had a challenging start to the season, suffering defeats in his initial matches in Hong Kong and Adelaide. His appearance at the Australian Open saw him pitted against former world number one Daniil Medvedev, resulting in a first-round exit after a competitive straight sets loss. Adding to his challenges, de Jong’s performance in the Davis Cup was marred by a surprising defeat as the Netherlands lost to India.
With Khachanov looking to regain form and de Jong seeking a breakthrough, analysts predict Khachanov to secure a decisive victory. The expectation is for Khachanov to dominate the match and win in straight sets, setting a hopeful tone for his journey in the tournament. Viewers can catch the match on Sky Sports Tennis in the UK and the Tennis Channel in the USA, with online streaming available through Sky Go and the Tennis Channel app. For those interested in attending, ticket information is available online.