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Karen Khachanov hires former top-10 player as his new coach after surprising split

Russian tennis star Karen Khachanov has made a significant coaching change, parting ways with longtime mentor Vedran Martic after nearly a decade of collaboration. The split comes despite Khachanov’s recent strong form, including a US Open semifinal appearance, and marks the end of a partnership that began when Khachanov was just 15.

To replace Martic, Khachanov has brought in former world No. 9 Andrei Chesnokov, a Soviet and Russian veteran with seven ATP titles—including two Masters 1000 wins—and a coaching background.

The new arrangement is on a trial basis, with Chesnokov joining Khachanov for the remainder of the 2023 season, including stops in Vienna and Paris. Khachanov, who is not in contention for the ATP Finals, will next compete at the Almaty Open as the sixth seed before concluding his season in Paris.

The move reflects Khachanov’s search for fresh perspective ahead of next year’s preseason, with the pair set to evaluate their collaboration after the upcoming tournaments.

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