Dubai, February 25, 2026: Russian tennis star Karen Khachanov crashed out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2026 after losing to American Jenson Brooksby in the Round of 16. Brooksby won the match in straight sets 7-6, 6-4 after a tight and competitive contest.
Tight First Set Goes to Tiebreak
The opening set was evenly matched, with both players holding their serves and showing strong baseline rallies. Khachanov served well and hit powerful groundstrokes, but Brooksby stayed calm under pressure. The set went into a tiebreak, where Brooksby edged ahead to take the early lead.
Brooksby Secures Key Break in Second Set
In the second set, Khachanov tried to play more aggressively, but Brooksby’s consistency and smart shot selection made the difference. The American converted his only break opportunity and closed the set 6-4, sealing the match and ending Khachanov’s campaign in Dubai.
Match Highlights
| Category | Khachanov | Brooksby |
|---|---|---|
| Sets Won | 0 | 2 |
| Aces | 7 | 4 |
| First Serve % | 72% | 65% |
| Total Points Won | 66 | 73 |
| Break Points | 0/0 | 1/1 |
Brooksby’s efficiency on the key points proved decisive, while Khachanov was unable to create a single break chance in the match.
Khachanov’s 2026 Form So Far
Khachanov has been competitive this season but has struggled to convert strong performances into deep tournament runs. He has shown good rhythm on hard courts, but early exits in key events have slowed his momentum.
Despite the defeat, Khachanov remains a dangerous player with a powerful serve and aggressive baseline game. He will now shift focus to the upcoming ATP events and look to build consistency ahead of the important Masters tournaments in the coming weeks.
