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The two Russians in the ATP top 10 lost to their countrymen on Tuesday, ending their Madrid Open hopes in the fourth round.
Aslan Karatev stunned second seed Daniil Medvedev while Karen Kachanov beat Andrey Rublev.
Karatev finished with a major draw in Madrid and has a 6-7 record against Top 10 opponents since defeating Medvedev.
«I’m feeling good, I’m playing well,» Karatev said after the match.
«I just have to focus on all the matches, so I’ll prepare for the next one… [Against top players] You have to concentrate more, you have to be 100 percent, you have to concentrate more because they don’t give you any free points.
«You have to be consistent and mentally strong, so I think I’m doing well.»
Karatesev is feeling good about his game and is ready to challenge the top 20 players in the world again.
«I was struggling last year,» Karatesev said after beating Medvedev 2-1 to improve his head-to-head record.
«I am very happy with my game [now]take a good look at what it is [happens next]He said.
Karatev will next face Taylor Fritz or Zizhen Zhang in the last eight at the Madrid Open.
Kachanov reached the final in his first ATP Masters event on clay.
He got revenge against Andrey Rublev with a well-thought-out game plan.
«Playing against each other is always difficult because on the one hand we know each other’s game very well because we have been practicing together for many years,» Kachanov said.
«At the same time, we know what to expect, but we are also very worried about playing with each other. We are good friends, but we are rivals on the court.
“It was all about keeping the serve, and if you have a chance to get back, go for it. That’s what I did.»
Rublev defeated Kachanov last week en route to the Mind Masters Series title in Monte Carlo.
However, this time Kachanov took control of the game.
«We both served well and had no chance to come back in the first set,» he said of the pair’s Madrid clash.
«I would say the tie finish was very important, similar to the situation in Monte-Carlo. He took the first set evenly [there] And in the second set, he began to believe more.
Kachanov and Rublev will face Jamie Murray and Michael Venus in the doubles final in the quarter-finals, but he said it would not be a problem for either.
«At the end of the day, this match is over,» Kachanov said.
“We should have some time to drink. And so it was in Monte-Carlo. We lost a very tight match the day before we played two games and then the next day he beat me. After a day, life goes on. This year is doing well, I’m doing well, I’m happy.
Kachanov will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the last eight.
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