By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, July 6, 2025
Photo credit: Jon Buckle/Getty
Grand Slam tennis requires controls between the lines.
Several of the top Wimbledon contenders—and one man ousted early— are strongest between the ears, says two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist Karen Khachanov.
The 17th-seeded Khachanov crushed Kamil Majchrzak 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 today to reach his first Wimbledon quarterfinal since 2021.
The 2023 Australian Open semifinalist Khachanov will play fifth-seeded American Taylor Fritz for a maiden Wimbledon semifinal.
After today’s victory, Khachanov was asked who are the smartest match players on Tour?
The veteran Russian immediately named the top three Wimbledon contenders: two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz, Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner for different reasons.
“There is only Novak left right now [among the Big 3], you know, who is still playing with us. I would say definitely Carlos,” Khachanov said. “He has all kind of shots. And once he knows how to use it and when, it’s just incredible because he has all arsenal. I’m sure he has a great knowledge of the game because he knows when to put slice, when to do drop shot.
“You know, he feels those moments.
“I would say, okay, obviously Jannik also. I think he’s more like a machine, let’s say. He practices to hit the ball in the right spots, and he does it with a high intensity and high speed.”
The fourth most astute player on Khachanov’s list may surprise you: Lorenzo Musetti.
Khachanov says the 2024 Wimbledon semifinalist Musetti’s shrewd skill changing the height and spins of his shots—varying crackling topspin with slithering slice—shows his knowledge of how to unsettle opponents with variety to keep the ball out of their strike zone.
“At the same time, I would say Musetti. I would say Musetti is a very, very uncomfortable player to play with because he has those kind of shots,” Khachanov said. “He knows how to change the trajectories of the game. On grass it’s not as much of a spin, but at the same time, slice, you know, short slice.
“Sometimes he uses opponent’s speed to counterattack. He really knows where to stay in the court. So I would say those.”
