Aleksandar Kovacevic def. Karen Khachanov 5-7, 6-3, 7(7)-6(2) — Cincinnati Open 2026 R128

Match recap

Aleksandar Kovacevic defeated Karen Khachanov 5-7, 6-3, 7(7)-6(2) in the R128 of the Cincinnati Open 2026.

The betting market's 68 percent sat with Karen Khachanov, who hit 16 aces and saved 10 of the 11 break points he faced. Aleksandar Kovacevic, ranked 95th, was the more efficient man behind the first delivery, winning 46 of 54 points there, and broke twice in the second set, the first coming in game 4 for 3-1. Neither man broke serve in the third, where Khachanov's 15 unforced errors piled up and the tiebreak went the other way. It ran 2 hours 16 minutes, with one match point saved by the favorite along the way; the result ends a six-match losing run for Kovacevic and sets up a meeting with No. 31 Brandon Nakashima.

Match stats

Aleksandar Kovacevic: 10 aces, 46 winners, 52% first serves, 2 double faults, 1/11 break points. Karen Khachanov: 16 aces, 35 winners, 56% first serves, 4 double faults, 1/8 break points.

Profiles: Aleksandar Kovacevic · Karen Khachanov — Cincinnati Open 2026

Head-to-head

Aleksandar Kovacevic and Karen Khachanov have met 2 times, splitting the head-to-head 1–1.

• Australian Open 2024 R64 — Karen Khachanov won 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3