Khachanov similiar to Safin?

[paulie-japan]

Is it just me, or does anyone see any similarities in the hitting of Marat and Karen? I would like to see Karen make a stake for the top 8 on a yearly basis!
I would love to see the two of them rally together (Safin at his peak of course).

 

[Shaolin]

Only similarity is that they're Russian.

Safin is infinitely better. No comparison.

 

[paulie-japan]

Only similarity is that they're Russian.

Safin is infinitely better. No comparison.

I'm talking strictly on a power level the way they hit the ball. I know Marat was better, but Karen is still young.

 

[Shaolin]

I'm talking strictly on a power level the way they hit the ball. I know Marat was better, but Karen is still young.

They both hit hard yes. That's about the end of similarity though. Karen might bash his way to a slam final someday but he has 1/8 the skill set Marat had.

 

[Tshooter]

Same Russian Ball Bashing factory. They ran out of money before they could build a volley module.

 

[paulie-japan]

They both hit hard yes. That's about the end of similarity though. Karen might bash his way to a slam final someday but he has 1/8 the skill set Marat had.

I agree with that. Marat was the tormented genius... It's a shame he couldn't play his best tennis more. When he did, he won the US open and the AO.

 

[metsman]

they are both tall Russians.

 

[NEW_BORN]

Somewhat. He's got the potential to fill the vacuum once the greats retire.

 

[mbm0912]

Safin had nicer gold chains.

 

[Deon Sanders]

Safin would rip off Karen's girl named head and urinate on it in disgust of next gen

If that is the comparison I agree

 

[Yoneyama]

Safin has a classic well refined technique on both wings. Khachanov has a very modern unorthodox forehand, similar but not as extreme as Tiafoes. Backhand side of Karen is more of a bunt when compared to Safin. Not really any similarities imo.

 

[MeatTornado]

I'm talking strictly on a power level the way they hit the ball. I know Marat was better, but Karen is still young.

Karen doesn't have half the power on the backhand side that Safin had.

He bashes forehands all day long, but so does every young guy on tour these days.

 

[Lavs]

Not even close. Safin would destroy him in any category

 

[George Turner]

Karen is no Safin.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Safin served better (at least for the time - at one point he held the serve speed record) and was more of a shot maker. Khachanov is more of a pure basher just hitting the same cross court shot over and over again.

Just watch the USO match against Nadal. Pure ball bashing. Mind you courts are slower now. I can't recall how Safin played on clay. Khachanov's forehand is also very spinny hit with a western grip.

 

[George Turner]

Safin served better (at least for the time - at one point he held the serve speed record) and was more of a shot maker. Khachanov is more of a pure basher just hitting the same cross court shot over and over again.

Just watch the USO match against Nadal. Pure ball bashing. Mind you courts are slower now. I can't recall how Safin played on clay. Khachanov's forehand is also very spinny hit with a western grip.

Basically, Karen isn't near to Safins natural talent levels and doesn't really resemble his playing style.

If Karen maximizes his potential (which Safin did not) he'll have a Cilic like career. Nothing more.

 

[ChaelAZ]

I can see some similarities, but I thin Karen moves better. Then again, most the bigger guys move netter now with training being a huge focus.

Love Karen though. Think he is showing a career top 20 groove right now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[snr]

Khachanov is just a baseline basher for now. Safin was extremely dangerous anywhere around the court... he's probably the closest to an all courter with a 2HBH in recent times IMO.

Would have really gave Fed a run for his money in that prime more consistently if he had a better mental game, we saw what happened when he could hold it together.

Same Russian Ball Bashing factory. They ran out of money before they could build a volley module.

I hope this doesn't insinuate that Safin didn't volley well... the guy had great hands and had some great volleys.

 

[paulie-japan]

Karen is no Safin.

2005 AO was an epic match!

 

[George Turner]

2005 AO was an epic match!

It's funny, if Federer had won that match it would be dismissed as an example of beating weak era Mugs, same as his AO win over Gonzalez was.

It's how players play on the day that counts, Safin was really GOATing that day.

 

[lud]

They are both Russians. Born in Moscow. They both won it Paris. That's about all similarities.

 

[Lew II]

It's funny, if Federer had won that match it would be dismissed as an example of beating weak era Mugs, same as his AO win over Gonzalez was.

It's how players play on the day that counts, Safin was really GOATing that day.

Even if Safin lost that match, he would be much greater than Gonzalez.

 

[Mainad]

Safin had sexier supporters:

 

[Mainad]

They are both Russians. Born in Moscow. They both won in Paris. That's about all similarities.

Plus both beat the reigning world #1 in a title match: Safin v Hewitt in 2002, Khachanov v Djokovic in 2018.

 

[lud]

Plus both beat the reigning world #1 in a title match: Safin v Hewitt in 2002, Khachanov v Djokovic in 2018.

Well, Safin won Paris 3x. Another similarity is that bith are tall guys. They have pretty good footwork for their height,

 

[lud]

Safin had sexier supporters:

Lucky *******.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Not even close. Safin would destroy him in any category

Safin would beat Karen 6-2, 6-1 even while smoking crystal meth during his service games.

 

[Third Serve]

I see a few similarities (mainly that they're both Russians) but if OP was comparing the two, I'd take Safin easily. Easily.

 

[Mainad]

Safin would beat Karen 6-2, 6-1 even while smoking crystal meth during his service games.

Isn't crystal meth a PED? In which case, no wonder he would beat him with a scoreline like that!

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Safin would beat Karen 6-2, 6-1 even while smoking crystal meth during his service games.

Would probably make you a better player in the short term tbh. Must be a banned performance enhancer. I always wonder if Jeopardy contestants pop adderall. A lot probably do.

Some contestants who go on a long streak of wins start to appear really strung out toward the end of their run.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Isn't crystal meth a PED? In which case, no wonder he would beat him with a scoreline like that!

Yeah, Novak on meth would be nearly undefeated in big matches without his habitual mental lapses. It's just not sustainable due to tolerance and adverse effects.

 

[Boom-Boom]

Stop everyone with the ball basher cliché

KK got nice hands at the net and dropshots

will be a Slam Winner sooner than you think

 

[NuBas]

I'm talking strictly on a power level the way they hit the ball. I know Marat was better, but Karen is still young.

Khachanov plays similar to Rublev. Safin has more conservative grip.

 

[MeatTornado]

KK got nice hands at the net and dropshots

Pics or it didn't happen

 

[BrokenGears]

Safin had sexier supporters:

Literally all three of them are ugly...

 

[Zeref]

Literally all three of them are ugly...

they are not ugly.
I m sure 90% OF TTW would settle with anyone of them.

I mean I definitely would

 

[BrokenGears]

they are not ugly.
I m sure 90% OF TTW would settle with anyone of them.

I mean I definitely would

Their faces are pretty ugly to me

 

[Mainad]

Literally all three of them are ugly...

So you wouldn't?

 

[BrokenGears]

So you wouldn't?

Nope. I can’t ignore someone’s face...

 

[AM75]

I see a few similarities (mainly that they're both Russians) but if OP was comparing the two, I'd take Safin easily. Easily.

Neither is Russian though, Safin is Tatar, Khachanov is Armenian, the difference begins already here.

 

[Sport]

Their faces are pretty ugly to me

Well, looks is largely subjective and a matter of preference. No person can be perceived as attractive by everyone. So it is perfectly possible if you don't like them but many TTW posters do.

 

[BrokenGears]

Well, looks is largely subjective and a matter of preference. No person can be perceived as attractive by everyone. So it is perfectly possible if you don't like them but many TTW posters do.

Ye probably, I don’t see the appeal. Safin could have done way better imo

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Neither is Russian though, Safin is Tatar, Khachanov is Armenian, the difference begins already here.

Khachanov is half Russian and frankly looks more Russian than Armenian. I'd be curious to see his dad. And Safin although identifying as Tatar is probably more than 3/4 Russian. There are "Native Americans" here in Canada with blonde hair and blue eyes. And Tatars have been part of Russia for nearly 500 years.

 

[paulie-japan]

Well, looks is largely subjective and a matter of preference. No person can be perceived as attractive by everyone. So it is perfectly possible if you don't like them but many TTW posters do.

Indeed....wouldn't say no!

 

[Clay lover]

Safin had a much better serve and BH. Technique on the forehand is totally different

 

[Shaolin]

Safin had a much better serve and BH. Technique on the forehand is totally different

Also Marat could volley, had a better return and actually had a personality.

 

[Third Serve]

Neither is Russian though, Safin is Tatar, Khachanov is Armenian, the difference begins already here.

That's correct, but I think you get my point: they both play for Russia

 

[WhiskeyEE]

That's correct, but I think you get my point: they both play for Russia

For the record, this is what an actual Tatar from Ukraine looks like:

Oh sorry, Crimea is part of Russia now. Moving along...

 

[AM75]

This is how the Tatar from New York looks like:

For the record, this is what an actual Tatar from Ukraine looks like:

Oh sorry, Crimea is part of Russia now. Moving along...

 

[WhiskeyEE]

This is how the Tatar from New York looks like:

Safina looks more Tatar than Marat, but I'm not sure how much the ethnicity/phenotype really survived in Russia. It survived in Ukraine (Crimea) to a larger extent simply because Crimea became part of the Russosphere more than 2 centuries later.