It’s quite probable this name is unfamiliar to most tennis fans but this is a certainty: Karen Khachanov is not a woman or a character in a Tolstoy novel. He is a Russian prodigy of Armenian descent ascending the ATP World Tour Rankings.

This time last year, he had yet to crack the top 150. Khachanov has made considerable progress since hiring Galo Blanco, a former touring pro and co-owner of the 4 Slam Tennis Academy in Barcelona, Spain. Blanco, who had previously worked with Milos Raonic, joined the Russian’s team in June 2016.

This right-handed, twenty-year-old next-gen standout is currently ranked fifty-three in the world due in large part to his outstanding performance last fall at the inaugural Chengdu Open not to mention his consistent play on the futures and challengers circuits.

At the outdoor hard court event in Chengdu, China, Khachanov was most impressive, hitting 14 aces, battling from a set down to defeat world number twenty-six Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-3 to claim his first ATP World Tour title. En route to the 250 series event final, he defeated three additional seasoned and seeded players - Joao Sousa, Feliciano Lopez and Victor Troicki.

Tennis insiders as well as fans, first took notice of the towering Russian this past September in the second round of the US Open where he took a set off world number five and 2014 US Open finalist, Kei Nishikori.

Although not known for approaching the net to finish off points, Khachanov at 6’6”, will need to significantly improve his agility, defensive skills, and court coverage in order to make further gains on his opponents and contend for majors.

Like his role models – two-time grand slam champion and recent Hall of Fame inductee Marat Safin and 2016 Olympic silver medalist and 2009 US Open champion, Juan Martin Del Potro - Khachanov possesses explosive groundstrokes and a formidable serve.

This rising star on the ATP World Tour exhibits enormous variety especially on the forehand side where he can strike it down the line, inside in or inside out. His two-handed backhand is equally effective and while he prefers to hit it down the line – his favorite shot – he often goes up the middle when returning serve.

Khachanov became the first Russian since Mikhail Youzhny in 2013 to win a title on the ATP World Tour. In winning the Chengdu Open from a set down, he demonstrated he has the mental fortitude to weather the storm of a long, grueling match and secure victory.

The future undeniably looks promising for the young Russian but he should proceed with caution for many prodigies before him have succumbed to early success, fame and wealth. Khachanov, along with fellow next-gen stars Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem and Nick Kyrgios, will have to learn to navigate and manage the pressure of expectation and unrelenting media glare bestowed upon young, first-time title winners.

Like the new year, the season is young so let the games begin.