French Open: Andreas Haider-Maurer eliminated Karen Khachanov in round one

Andreas Haider-Maurer retired in the first round of the French Open 2018: The long-time Austrian Davis Cup player lost to the favourite Russian Karen Khachanov in three sets 6:7 (0), 3:6 and 3:6.

By Jens Huiber from Paris

Andreas Haider-Maurer has certainly not lacked support in his first round match at the French Open 2018: A considerable delegation of Austrian tennis fans went on pilgrimage to Court 12, quite a few in the jersey of the national football team. Opponent Karen Khachanov, on the other hand, could count on the support of a prominent countrywoman: Daria Kasatkina, in the ladies’ tableau at position 14.

That the Russian won after 1:53 hours 7:6 (0), 6:3 and 6:3, however, was less due to external influences than to small differences that make a big difference on Grand Slam levels. The Haider-Maurers playground is very similar to the Khachanovs, serve and forehand should provide the points.

The 22-year-old Moscow native, however, played a bit faster, flatter and had his best moments on serve in the most important moments: Haider-Maurer played 6:5 in the first set and 30:0 as a setback, but then Khachanov unpacked several rocket serves, as well as in the tiebreak, in which the points with the backhand went very easily from the bat of the world rankings-38.

An early break in the second round set the tone for the rest of the match. Only a few fans on court 12 believed that Andreas Haider-Maurer would catch up with the physically strong Khachanov by 0:2 sets, with or without a red-white-red jersey. Nevertheless: The Austrian started the third section better, led 3:1, had to accept the re-break in the fifth game. And stopped playing after that.

For Haider-Maurer, this continued an extremely difficult season: After a protracted foot injury, the long-time Austrian Davis Cup player has not yet managed to win a match at the highest ATP level.

Here are the results of Andreas Haider-Maurer 2018: