WATCH: Alexei Popyrin struggles with a medical timeout as Karen Khachanov snatches finals spot in Qatar

The Australian's untimely injury causes problems for him yet again as he is taken down by Khachanov in the semis.

WATCH: Alexei Popyrin struggles with a medical timeout as Karen Khachanov snatches finals spot in Qatar

Karen Khachanov and Alexei Popyrin (images via IMAGO)

It was an anti-climatic ending for World No. 46 Alexei Popyrin at the 2024 Qatar Open in Doha. The Aussie suffered for results during the Australian leg of the Tour in January. At his home Slam, the 2024 Australian Open, he lost in the second round losing to defending champ Novak Djokovic.

He did manage to get a set off from the World No. 1 but it wasn’t enough as Nole marched through. The local boy struggled with cramps against Djokovic and the same happened today for him in Doha. He was up against second-seeded Karen Khachanov in the semi-finals.

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He was tested in the first two rounds winning both the matches in three sets. Popyrin brought out his best in the quarter-finals against Kazakh mercurial Alexander Bublik to defeat him 6-4, 6-4. Eyeing his first finals spot since winning the title in Umag in 2023, the former World No. 39 came out hard.

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The duo played an extended first set as Khachanov emerged victorious in the tiebreaker at 14-12. The first set lasted 1 hour and four minutes before the two men could be separated. Popyrin had three set points but failed to convert them and it eventually cost him dearly.

To make matters worse, he picked up an injury although the nature of it couldn’t be decoded. He was seen with his head in his hands exhausted with the heat helping him in no way.

Many would remember him suffering a similar fate against Djokovic where he won the second set and took the third to tiebreaker but the injury ruined his chances. He took a medical timeout today as well but it could not help him much as he continued the match in pain.

Karen Khachanov steamrolls in the second set to reach the maiden final of the season

Khachanov immediately got in a position of advantage as the Aussie struggled on the court. The Russian was still made to work but he didn’t allow any slip-ups as he wrapped the second set in 44 minutes.

Alexei Popyrin
Alexei Popyrin struggling on his bench in Doha (Image via Open Source)

Khachanov won the match 7-6(14-12), 6-2 to reach his eighth career finals and first of the season. This will be his first since winning the 2023 Zhuhai Championships in China last year, his fifth career title.

He will now await the winner of the match between French veteran Gael Monfils and Czech wildcard Jakub Mensik. Popyrin will still take something home as he is guaranteed to rise to the 38th spot in the rankings. It will be his new career high and he’ll look to take it further ahead in the coming weeks.

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