ATP roundup: Karen Khachanov wins Doha championship

Karen Khachanov, the second seed, defeated Czech teenager Jakub Mensik 7-6 (12), 6-4 on Saturday to win his sixth career title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha.

The 27-year-old Russian did not lose a set all week, a record he maintained by saving four set points in the first-set tiebreak.

Khachanov won the tiebreak on the 26th point by crushing a forehand return on Mensik's big serve, and then took the only break of the match in the first game of the second set.

"I stayed strong, I'm extremely happy that I won the first set. It lifted me a lot and gave me a lot of confidence to step up in the second," said Khachanov, who won in one hour and 49 minutes for his first title since Zhuhai in September.

Mensik was the youngest finalist in Doha history, having only competed in three tour-level events. He hit 16 aces and finished with 33 winners and 10 unforced errors.

Rio Open

Qualifier Mariano Navone defeated second seed and defending champion Cameron Norrie of Great Britain 6-4, 6-2, setting up an all-Argentine final on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.

Navone will face fifth seed Sebastian Baez, who defeated fourth-seeded Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-0. Baez was down three set points at 4-5 in the first set, but saved them all and did not lose another game in the one-hour, 59-minute match.

Navone, 22, defeated his first Top 50 opponent, No. 23, and became the first qualifier to reach an ATP 500 final since Jiri Vesely in Dubai in 2022. Navone converted 5 of 18 break-point opportunities, compared to Norrie's 2 of 4.

Mifel Tennis Open

Jordan Thompson, the eighth seed, won his first ATP Tour title in Los Cabos, Mexico, defeating fourth seed Casper Ruud in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(4).

Thompson, ranked 40th in the world, gained an advantage in the second-set tiebreaker by winning the fifth point on Ruud's serve to lead 3-2. It was the only point in the tiebreaker where serve did not hold, and the Australian won the match on his first match point.

Thompson had seven aces to Ruud's one, the Norwegian ranked 12th in the ATP. Thompson also saved 11 of 13 break points, while Ruud missed all three of his chances.

SportsLigue