That was the Karen Khachanov ATP World Tour fans have seen make his way into the Top 30 of the Emirates ATP Rankings this season.
After an opening defeat on Tuesday, the Russian bludgeoned the ball at will on Wednesday against American Jared Donaldson to earn his first win at the Next Gen ATP Finals 4-1, 4-3(3), 4-2.
Khachanov improved to 1-1 in Group B after falling in four sets on Tuesday against countryman Daniil Medvedev. He was locked in from the start against Donaldson, who's the highest-ranked 21-and-under American.
The Russian was stepping into the court and bullying the American from side to side with his powerful forehand. Donaldson was frequently feet behind the baseline, left to only retrieve balls and attempt to work his way back into points.
Learn More About The Innovations In Milan
Khachanov finished with 22 winners to only 11 unforced errors. Donaldson, meanwhile, hit 10 winners and spilled 14 unforced errors.
“It was a good match yesterday as well, just a couple of points made the difference,” Khachanov said. “But today everything was on my side. I played a good match. I am happy about it, even yesterday I played well I think. It was good tennis.”
The Russian elected not to speak with his coach Galo Blanco during the match on Wednesday. In-match coaching is allowed in between sets at the Next Gen ATP Finals. Khachanov had spoken with Blanco during his first contest.
“We just decided with Galo that if I would need something he will show me and we can communicate with the [headset]. But everything was under control, I think, and we didn't use it today,” Khachanov said.
The right-hander will face Croatian Borna Coric on Thursday in his final Group B match.
The fifth-seeded Donaldson fell to 0-2 in Milan and will look to win his first set of the tournament on Thursday against the seventh-seeded Medvedev. The American has won a career-best 21 times this year, but has struggled down the stretch after making the quarter-finals in September at the Chengdu Open in China (l. to eventual champion Istomin).
Donaldson has now lost six consecutive matches since falling to World No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters.