Karen Khachanov has explained why he confronted Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after their quarter-final clash in Barcelona. The Russian won the last five games of the match to seal a 6-4 7-5 victory, booking his spot in the last four. But there was a bizarre end to the match when they suddenly had it out during the handshake.

The world No. 27 could be seen gesturing to Davidovich Fokina as he made his point but they suddenly hugged and parted ways. Khachanov then admitted they had been in a “little bit of a fight” earlier in the match and wanted to sort things out.

Khachanov outlasted home favourite Davidovich Fokina to reach his first ATP 500 semi-final in dramatic fashion. It was a rollercoaster match with plenty of breaks, and Davidovich Fokina even had a chance to serve for the second set.

The world No. 27 confronted Davidovich Fokina earlier in the set while trailing 3-5, and the Spaniard replied by telling him: “It’s a drop shot.”

Commentators speculated whether the Russian wasn’t happy with a net cord that Davidovich Fokina didn’t apologise for. But Khachanov regrouped to win the match in straight sets, saving a set point and coming back from 2-5 down.

Despite getting the win, he clearly wasn’t happy with something and squared up to Davidovich Fokina as they shook hands.

“But you can understand it could be offensive?” Khachanov was heard saying as the Spaniard agreed. There were no hard feelings, as both men hugged it out before going their separate ways.

“It’s always the best way to sort it out, in an exchange there. I think it may just be that their wires got crossed a bit,” commentator Barry Cowan remarked.

Afterwards, Khachanov was asked what their heated chat was all about.

He replied: “Sometimes, okay, in the heat of the battle, the players are getting a little bit frustrated, let’s say. A little bit emotional, a little bit nervous. In a few games before we were in a little bit of a fight.

“Look, at the end of the day, I’m here to fight in a fair-play way so we sorted it out at the end. I don’t have any problem with him, to be honest. Okay, we said some things before, but after, we shook hands like a man and that’s it, it’s over.”

Khachanov will now turn his attention to his semi-final match, where he will face either No. 6 seed Holger Rune or defending champion Casper Ruud.

The 28-year-old is seeking his first title away from a hard court, and now finds himself two wins from the trophy.

“Either it can be this week or next week, I try to be as consistent as possible, as good as possible, to be a better version of myself,” he said.