Deja vu! Michael Mmoh pulls off a stunning upset against Karen Khachanov, advancing to the quarter-finals at the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open. It's a rematch of sorts, and the outcome is just as thrilling!
Mmoh, currently ranked No. 285 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is off to a roaring start in 2026. He defeated the fourth-seeded Khachanov in straight sets with a score of 7-6(2), 7-6(4). This victory not only secures his spot in the quarter-finals but also marks his second win against Khachanov, bringing their head-to-head record to 2-0 in Mmoh's favor.
But here's where it gets interesting: Mmoh's win over Khachanov isn't just a random victory. It's a repeat performance! He previously defeated Khachanov at the US Open in 2023. This win is also his first against a Top 20 opponent since that match.
Mmoh's history with Khachanov goes way back. "Funnily enough, my first ITF junior win was against Karen Khachanov, so we’ve been battling from the age of 14," Mmoh shared. "He’s a great guy who’s had an unbelievable career, so just to share the court with him, I knew I needed to play at the highest level possible."
In the second set, Mmoh faltered when attempting to serve out the match at 5-4. However, he quickly regained his composure in a tie-break to secure his place in his seventh ATP Tour quarter-final. Next, he will face his fellow American, Marcos Giron.
In other exciting news from the tournament, Chinese player Shang Juncheng made history by becoming the first player to reach all three Hong Kong quarter-finals since the ATP 250 event returned in 2024. He achieved this feat by defeating fifth seed Lorenzo Sonego with a score of 6-3, 6-4, hitting an impressive 24 winners.
Shang, who had to sit out six months of the 2025 season due to a foot injury, is set to compete against either second seed Alexander Bublik or Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarter-finals.
What do you think about Mmoh's impressive performance? Do you see him going all the way? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
