Vienna 2024: Alex de Minaur vs Karen Khachanov preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Erste Bank Open
Match Details
Fixture: (2) Alex de Minaur vs Karen Khachanov
Date: 26 October 2024
Tournament: Erste Bank Open 2024
Round: Semi-final
Venue: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
Category: ATP 500
Surface: Hard-court (Indoor)
Winner's Prize Money: €2,470,310
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Alex de Minaur vs Karen Khachanov preview
Second seed Alex de Minaur will square off against World No. 24 Karen Khachanov in a tantalizing semifinal showdown at the 2024 Erste Bank Open on Saturday, October 26.
De Minaur faced an early test in Vienna, overcoming Jan-Lennard Struff in a hard-fought three-set battle, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round. He found his rhythm in the subsequent round against Flavio Cobolli, leading 7-6(2), 3-1 before the latter was forced to retire due to injury.
In the quarterfinals, de Minaur took on promising Czech teen Jakub Mensik. After losing the first set in a tight tiebreak, he rallied back in the second to send it into a decider. The third set saw the Australian's superior experience come to the fore, with him clinching a win 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4 courtesy of a solitary break.
Khachanov, meanwhile, kicked off his 2024 Erste Bank Open campaign with a routine 6-2, 6-4 win over Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild. His second-round encounter against Brandon Nakashima wasn't as straightforward, as he had to come back from a set down to seal an emphatic 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Khachanov put together arguably his strongest performance of the week in the quarterfinals, dispatching the dangerous Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-4 in just 78 minutes.
Alex de Minaur vs Karen Khachanov head-to-head
Alex de Minaur and Karen Khachanov are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head record. Khachanov secured the win in their most recent matchup in Dubai in 2022.
Alex de Minaur vs Karen Khachanov odds
(Odds to be added once available)
Alex de Minaur vs Karen Khachanov prediction
De Minaur enters this contest with a 44-14 match record this season with a 24-8 record on the hardcourts and an 8-2 record indoors. Khachanov on the contrary hasn't found as much success, as he holds a 32-20 match record, 20-13 on the hardcourts, and an incredible 9-1 record indoors.
De Minaur has won seven career titles on the hardcourts, with his last win coming at the Acapulco earlier this year. He's also reached the finals in Rotterdam and reached the last eight in New York and Antwerp last week.
Khachanov has also won 7 tour titles on the hardcourts with his last one coming in Almaty just last week. He's won another harcourt event this year in Qatar but has failed to consistently make it to the business end elsewhere.
The pair have met twice on tour, both times on the hardcourts. Both matches have gone the distance and we could very well be in for another thriller between the pair. De Minaur enters the contest stronger on paper, but Khachanov has had the smoother run up until the final. He's also been in better form off late as compared to de Minaur who is still getting back to full fitness following his hip injury.
An upset could well be on the cards if Khachnov continues playing the same way as he has done this week.
Pick: Khachanov in three sets.