Karen Khachanov, the 18th seed at the Australian Open, has expressed his support for the people of the Republic of Artsakh. The residents of Artsakh are currently enduring a month-long blockade carried out by Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijan Tennis Federation has expressed its displeasure with Khachanov’s conduct. However, the young player is standing by his actions and denying any accusations of hateful acts.

Karen Khachanov shares his support for his native country

Some fans praised him for standing up for his heritage. However, others condemned him for potentially stirring up tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. But Khachanov is clear in his intentions. He is not trying to provoke anyone; he is simply showing his support for his people.

According to reports by the Daily Mail, in an interview with reporters, Khachanov stated, “I have Armenian roots from my father’s side, from my grandfather’s side, even from my mum’s side – I’m half Armenian,..”. Khachanov’s statements have been met with support from many in the Armenian community, who appreciate his willingness to stand up for his heritage. Many have taken to social media to express their appreciation for Khachanov’s actions. The fans have thanked him for shining a spotlight on the situation in Artsakh.

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However, Khachanov’s actions have also been met with criticism from some in the Azerbaijani community. They see his messages of support as a provocation. They argue that Khachanov is using his platform as a professional athlete to stir up tensions between the two countries. The fans think his actions are disrespectful to the people of Azerbaijan.

The half-Armenian player shared, “I just wanted to show strength and support to my people. That’s it.” He also emphasized that he is not taking sides in the ongoing conflict and that he simply wants to show his support for his people.

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Despite the criticism, Khachanov is standing by his actions and continues to express his support for the people of Artsakh. He has stated that he will continue to use his platform as a professional athlete to raise awareness about the situation in Artsakh and to show his support for his people.

Fans impressed by Khachanov’s recent performances on the Tour

In recent years, Karen Khachanov has demonstrated remarkable potential. He has regularly been a part of the elite group of players in men’s singles alongside his fellow countrymen Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev. He had a noteworthy performance on the tour in 2021, including winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and consistently reaching the quarterfinals at major tournaments such as Wimbledon. Wimbledon announced a huge decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from the tournament in 2022. The Russian star was understandably unhappy with the decision, as it had a great impact on his career and his matches.

Khachanov was able to reach his second consecutive Grand Slam semi-final at the ongoing Australian Open. His opponent in the quarterfinals, Sebastian Korda, was forced to retire due to a wrist injury while trailing in the match. Khachanov will now face either Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas for a chance to advance to the final on Sunday.

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