Karen Khachanov: “Miami Vibes” and Finding Balance on the Tennis Tour

3 days ago
3 min read

As part of Miami Living’s annual tennis interview series, we spoke with Karen Khachanov during the Miami Open about life on tour beyond the baseline. From embracing Miami’s laid-back energy to balancing family time, recovery, and competition, Khachanov reflects on the routines and mindset that support his longevity and consistency at the highest level of professional tennis.

BY MARKIN ABRAS | PHOTOS KAREN KHACHANOV/INSTAGRAM

Karen Khachanov was born in Moscow and started playing tennis at the age of three. He turned professional in 2013 and gradually established himself on the ATP Tour with a powerful baseline game and steady results. His first ATP title came in 2016 at the Chengdu Open, a breakthrough that confirmed his potential. In 2018, he won the biggest title of his career at the Paris Masters, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final and entering the top 10 for the first time.

When conversation turns to Miami, Khachanov keeps it simple. Asked what comes to mind when he thinks of the city, he answers in his own relaxed way: “I would say Miami vibes. Definitely the art district of Miami. A lot of restaurants, shops, just a place to walk around and chill.” The atmosphere clearly leaves an impression, not only because of the tournament but because of the lifestyle around it.

That balance between competition and family is central to his routine. Khachanov married his childhood friend, Veronika Shkliaeva, and they have children together. During tournaments, if his wife and kids are with him, his time off is uncomplicated. “If my wife and my family, my kids, are with me, I just like to walk around. Maybe go to the park, maybe to the zoo. It depends on the tournament. Sometimes there’s a swimming pool, sometimes we just chill in the room or walk on the street.” If it is only him and his wife, the pace changes slightly. “Maybe we go to a nice restaurant and spend time talking, just being the two of us.” Other weeks include team dinners and board games, depending on who is around.

Physically, Miami presents specific challenges. The heat and humidity can affect players differently. Khachanov does not approach it with a complicated strategy. “I would say it’s a little bit natural,” he explains. “Some players get better with the heat and humidity. Some have a tougher reaction to that. For me, I didn’t do anything in particular to prepare for those conditions. It comes more naturally that I can resist and feel okay in those conditions.”

Managing energy across continents is another reality of the tour. Sleep becomes essential, but also unpredictable. Khachanov laughs at the comparison he uses for himself. “To be honest, I’m like a koala. Sometimes I can sleep a lot, and I really need to sleep a lot to get more energy. Sometimes it’s just not possible.” He points to the irregular match schedules as the main obstacle. “It’s about the schedule, about having your routines — what time you go to sleep, what time you wake up. But in tennis you don’t know every day exactly what time you will play. Sometimes early morning, sometimes late night. With different time zones and travel to different continents, it’s really tough.”

On court, the results speak clearly. In addition to his Paris Masters title, Khachanov has won ATP events in Marseille and Moscow. He reached the semifinals of the US Open in 2022 and followed that with a semifinal run at the Australian Open in 2023. Representing his country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, held in 2021, he earned the silver medal in singles.

At the Miami Open, Khachanov has produced some of his most competitive performances, one of them leading to a semifinal place in 2023, a result that showed his abilities, competitiveness and enduring capacities of a high-end athlete.

Karen Khachanov's stats:

Age: 29 (21 May 1996)

Birth place: Moscow, Russia

Career high: World No. 8

Singles titles: 7

Miami Open Best: Semifinals in 2023

Prize Money: US$ 21,629,612

www.instagram.com/karenkhachanov