Khachanov Goes Viral: His Top 3 Must-See Shots of 2025

When you think of Karen Khachanov, one word immediately comes to mind: power. The 6'6" titan has built a career on a foundation of thunderous serves and forehands that could punch a hole through a brick wall. But the 2025 season is revealing a new dimension to his game. He's not just hitting hard; he's hitting smart, creative, and, frankly, impossible shots that are lighting up social media. We're only partway through the year, and he's already delivered a reel of highlights that will be replayed for years to come.

Forget the standard winners. We're talking about jaw-on-the-floor, rewind-it-ten-times moments of pure tennis genius. Let's break down the top three shots that have turned Khachanov into a viral sensation in 2025.

Shot #1: The Moscow Missile (Australian Open Quarterfinals)

The scene: a sweltering Melbourne night, deep in a four-hour epic against Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open quarterfinals. The tension in Rod Laver Arena is palpable. Khachanov is serving at 5-6 in the fourth set, facing a match point. What follows is a brutal, 32-shot rally that pushes both men to their physical limits.

Sinner, sensing his moment, rips a deep cross-court forehand that forces Khachanov into the far tramline. The point looks over. 99% of players would hit a defensive slice back and hope for the best. Karen Khachanov is not one of them.

In a breathtaking display of athleticism, he goes into a full sprint, plants his outside foot, and unleashes an all-or-nothing running forehand. But he doesn't go for the high-percentage cross-court shot. He threads the needle, blasting the ball down the line with ferocious power. It's a yellow blur that screams past a stunned Sinner, kissing the baseline paint for a clean winner. The roar from the crowd was deafening.

"I have no idea how he made that," commentator John McEnroe was heard saying on the broadcast. "To generate that kind of pace, on a full sprint, on match point down... that's not just talent, that's courage. Absolutely fearless tennis."

Why It Was Special

• The Context: Facing match point after a marathon rally against a top-5 opponent. The pressure couldn't have been higher.
• The Technique: A full-stretch, open-stance running forehand is one of the toughest shots in tennis. To direct it down the line with that much pace (reportedly clocked at 108 mph) is bordering on superhuman.
• The Audacity: It was a low-percentage shot that signaled a new level of self-belief. Khachanov wasn't just trying to survive the point; he was determined to win it on his own terms.

The Kremlin Wall Lob (Indian Wells Semifinals)

If the Moscow Missile was about pure, unadulterated power, Khachanov's next viral moment at the Indian Wells Masters was a masterclass in touch and tactical brilliance. In the semifinals against the relentless Daniil Medvedev, Khachanov found himself embroiled in the kind of geometric, chess-like rallies that his countryman is famous for.

Trapped behind the baseline, Khachanov was being pulled from side to side like a puppet on a string. After a lung-busting exchange, Medvedev hit a sharp, dipping backhand angle that looked like a certain winner. Khachanov scrambled, stretching every inch of his massive frame to get his racquet on the ball.

Everyone expected a desperate, floating slice. Instead, with an almost imperceptible change in his grip and wrist angle, Khachanov carved under the ball. He didn't just pop it up; he guided a delicate, heavy-topspin lob that arced high over Medvedev's head. The disguise was so perfect that Medvedev, who had already moved forward to admire his handiwork, could only turn and watch it land squarely on the baseline. It was the perfect fusion of defense and offense—a shot that was as intelligent as it was beautiful.

Why It Was Special

• Tennis IQ: Against a player like Medvedev, you have to break the rhythm. Khachanov recognized the opportunity in a split second, turning a defensive position into an attacking one.
• Sublime Touch: For a player known for his power, this shot showcased an incredible level of feel. The amount of spin required to get the ball up and down so quickly, while on a full stretch, is phenomenal.
• The Element of Surprise: No one, least of all Medvedev, saw it coming. It was a moment that proved Khachanov has more than just a Plan A.

The Siberian Sledgehammer (Monte-Carlo Masters)

Just when we thought we'd seen it all, Khachanov took to the clay courts of Monte-Carlo and produced a shot that arguably topped the first two. During a tense third-set battle with clay-court stalwart Casper Ruud, Khachanov found himself facing a break point at 4-4.

Ruud had constructed the point perfectly, using his heavy forehand to push Khachanov further and further outside the backhand wing. He finally hit what should have been the killer blow: a wide ball that had Khachanov sliding on the clay, almost in the doubles alley.

The court was wide open. A defensive shot was the only logical play. But Khachanov had other ideas. Planting his right foot and using the slide to his advantage, he pivoted his entire torso and uncorked a two-handed backhand of pure fury. The angle he created was geometrically impossible, ripping the ball sharp cross-court for a winner that landed just feet from the net. It was a shot of raw, explosive power, combining his natural strength with newfound agility on the dirt.

After the match, Khachanov himself commented, "Honestly, sometimes you just close your eyes and swing. On that one, I felt the slide was good and I just let the racquet go. I was lucky it went in!"

Why It Was Special

• Defying Physics: The angle he generated from that wide on the court is something you rarely see. It showcased incredible core strength and racquet-head speed.
• Surface Adaptability: To hit a shot like this on clay, a surface that traditionally tempers his power, demonstrates his improved movement and confidence on the dirt.
• Clutch Performance: Much like the Australian Open shot, this came on a massive point—a break point late in a deciding set. He's delivering his best tennis when it matters most.

Shot-by-Shot Breakdown: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Each shot was incredible in its own right, but how do they stack up against each other? We've broken them down by key metrics to see how they compare.

What These Shots Mean for Khachanov's Future

These viral moments are more than just flashy highlights; they are a statement. They represent the evolution of Karen Khachanov from a dangerous power-hitter into a complete, all-court threat. He is blending his signature power with the touch, creativity, and defensive grit necessary to challenge the very top of the sport consistently.

Key Takeaways for 2025

• Confidence is Sky-High: He is attempting—and pulling off—low-percentage shots on the biggest points. This signals a player who believes he can beat anyone.
• An All-Surface Threat: With spectacular shots on both hard courts and clay, he's proving his game is no longer limited to faster conditions.
• The 'X-Factor' is Back: Khachanov now possesses the ability to produce a moment of magic out of nowhere, a quality that can turn the tide of any match.

As the 2025 season continues, don't take your eyes off Karen Khachanov. With a game this explosive and unpredictable, his next viral moment is surely just one swing away.