Croatian-coached Khachanov upsets world No.1 Djoković to win Paris Masters title

Karen Khachanov (Photo: Rolex Paris Masters)

Croatian-coached Russian tennis player Karen Khachanov has won the Paris Masters after upsetting new world No.1 Novak Djoković on Sunday in Paris. 

Khachanov, who is coached by 51-year-old Vedran Martić from Split, Croatia, put in a fantastic display in the final winning in straight sets over the Serbian 7-5, 6-4. 

The win was the 22-year-old’s fourth ATP singles title and sees him jump to a new career-high of world No.11. 

Djoković, who beat Roger Federer and Marin Čilić on his way to the final, looked strong in the opening few games and broke the Russian to go 3-1 up in the first set. But that would it as Khachanov broke back and then once again in the 11th game to go 6-5 up. 

Karen Khachanov (Photo: Rolex Paris Masters)

Khachanov would hit a powerful first serve down the middle which Djoković could not return to take the first set 7-5. 

Khachanov was going from strength to strength and broke Djoković early in the second set to go 3-1 up. He had chances to break again but would claim his first 1000 Masters series title when Djoković would hit a return too deep.  

This is the second time Martić is coaching the promising Russian after first training him between 2012-2014 when he led him to become Russian champion for the first time and a European U-18 championship title. 

Martić in white with Khachanov (Ubitennis.net)

Croatian coaches are leading the way on the ATP tour. No nation in the world has as many coaches coaching players in the Top 20 than Croatia. Out of the Top 20 ranked players in the world, 4 have Croatians coaches.

Along with Martić, former world No.3 Ivan Ljubičić coaches Roger Federer, Ivan Cinkuš has coached world No.6 Marin Čilić for the past four years and Kristijan Schneider coaches world No.12 Borna Ćorić.