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Russia’s Karen Khachanov downs Valentin Royer at 2025 ATP Cincinnati Open

In the next round, Karen Khachanov will face 24-year-old wildcard Jenson Brooksby from the United States

WASHINGTON, August 11. /TASS/. Russia’s Karen Khachanov has moved on to Round Three of the 2025 ATP Cincinnati Open in the United States after defeating France's Valentin Royer.

The 14th-seeded Khachanov, who is playing under a neutral status at the tournament, defeated French qualifier Royer in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). In the next round, he will face 24-year-old wildcard Jenson Brooksby from the United States.

Khachanov, 29, is currently ranked 12th in the ATP (the Association of Tennis Professionals) Rankings, and has seven career ATP titles. His best performance in the Grand Slam series was when he reached the semifinal rounds at the 2022 US Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

The Russian player also took home the silver medal in men’s singles at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. He also won the 2021 Davis Cup as part of the Russian national team.

The ATP Cincinnati Masters 2025 Open tennis tournament is played on outdoor hard courts in the city of Cincinnati, in the US state of Ohio, and will run through August 18. The event offers $9.1 million in prize money. The tournament’s reigning champion is World No.1 Jannik Sinner from Italy.

Russian players’ neutral status at tennis tournaments

On February 28, 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments, citing Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine as the reason.

Following the IOC's recommendations in late February 2022, the majority of global sports federations decided to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) ruled on March 1, 2022 to suspend the membership of the Russian and Belarusian national tennis federations while also canceling all previously scheduled tennis tournaments in the two countries.

On March 14, 2022, the ITF also confirmed its prohibition on the Russian and Belarusian national tennis teams from taking part in the 2022 Davis Cup and 2022 Billie Jean King Cup.