Khachanov Shocks Evans in Dubai Tennis Championships Opener

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In a surprising turn of events, Britain’s Dan Evans lost to Russian Karen Khachanov in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on February 23, 2025. Evans, who was awarded a wildcard into the tournament, had previously triumphed in all five of their prior encounters, including a grueling five-and-a-half-hour match at last year’s US Open.

However, Khachanov, currently ranked 24th in the world, showcased an impressive performance, defeating Evans 6-1, 6-3 within just an hour and 20 minutes. With this victory, he moves forward to face either fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece or Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the second round.

Evans had entered the tournament hoping to regain form, possessing a record of 3-6 this season on the Challenger tour. This was his first ATP-level match of 2025. Despite his earlier successes against Khachanov, Evans’ recent struggles have kept him outside the top 100 rankings, and he has only competed in lower-tier events so far this year.

Khachanov, conversely, has endured a difficult start to the season with a disappointing 2-4 record as he contended with early exits, including a first-round loss at the Qatar Open. Biblically, he was vying for improvement after a tumultuous performance the previous year, when he was defaulted from the Dubai Championships due to unsportsmanlike conduct.

Reflecting on his victory, Khachanov credited his preparation and mindset. “I focused on my game plan and stuck to it,” he said. “It’s important to come into these matches mentally strong, especially against an opponent who has beaten you before.”

As Evans left the court, he expressed disappointment but remained optimistic about the remainder of the season. “It’s been a tough start for me, but I’m looking to build from here,” he stated. “I’ve had success in the past, and I know I can rediscover that form.”

The Dubai Tennis Championships, an ATP 500 event, kicks off with Daniil Medvedev as the top seed and defending champion Ugo Humbert looking to make a strong title defense after winning the tournament last year. Humbert defeated Alexander Bublik in the final in 2024 and is expected to face a challenging opener against Jiri Lehecka.

Other notable players participating in this year’s event include Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev, both aiming for crucial points in the lead-up to upcoming Masters 1000 tournaments in the United States next month. Medvedev, currently ranked sixth, is positioned 550 points behind world number five Casper Ruud and is under pressure to gain ground in the rankings.

The tournament features a total prize money pool of $3,237,670, and matches will be played on hard courts at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai. Fans are eager to witness the action as the tournament progresses through the first round and into the emerging storylines for this year’s championship.