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2021 Australian Open: History-making qualifier Karatsev reaches semis

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/02/16/20210216-aslan-karatsev-rtr.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Russia&#x27;s Aslan Karatsev in action during his quarter final match against Bulgaria&#x27;s Grigor Dimitrov. <em>Jaimi Joy, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev became the first man in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam semifinal on debut Tuesday, overcoming an injured Grigor Dimitrov in four sets at the Australian Open.</p><p>The 27-year-old&#x27;s dream run continued with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 win against the Bulgarian on Rod Laver Arena to set up a last-four clash with top seed Novak Djokovic or sixth seed Alexander Zverev.</p><p>But it was achieved against a player grimacing with pain from late in the third set.</p><p>Dimitrov called for a medical timeout and was heard on the court microphone saying he had &quot;spasms&quot;, with a trainer given him treatment to his lower back.</p><p>The 18th seed gamely returned but his movement was hampered as she struggled to serve and chase down returns. </p><p>&quot;Unbelievable feeling, first time in semis. Incredible,&quot; said Karatsev.</p><p>&quot;It was tough at the beginning for me to hold my nerves, but I tried to find a way to play.&quot; </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/16/21/tennis-serena-comes-through-halep-test-to-reach-semi-finals">Tennis: Serena comes through Halep test to reach semi-finals</a></li></ul><p>In making the last four, he became just the second qualifier to do so at the Australian Open after Bob Giltinan in 1977.</p><p>He was also the lowest-ranked man, at 114, to make the semis at a Slam since Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon in 2001 when ranked 125.</p><p>A virtual unknown before the tournament started, Karatsev has spent the bulk of his professional career fighting for points on the ATP Challenger Tour. </p><p>But he has played the tournament of his life in Melbourne, blitzing eighth seed Diego Schwartzmann and 20th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime on his way to meeting Dimitrov.</p><p>Dimitrov served to love to open proceedings but Karatsev fixed his radar and broke for 2-1 when the Bulgarian fluffed a forehand.</p><p>But the advantage only lasted until the next game when Dimitrov levelled then broke again for 4-2, winning five games in a row to take the opening set in just 33 minutes.</p><p>The Russian was guilty of too many loose shots and had trouble landing his forehands.</p><p>But he is a fighter and refused to go quietly, breaking for a 3-2 lead in the second on the back of a wild Dimitrov volley then breaking again to unexpectedly secure the second set.</p><p>His persistence began irritating Dimitrov, who started muttering to himself as frustrations crept in and he went 3-1 down in the third set.</p><p>The Bulgarian then began struggling as the set wore on and was barely able to serve at 1-5 before taking the medical timeout.</p><p>The 29-year-old returned but never looked like getting back in the match.</p><div><strong>mp/dh</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VNUquE4gomY?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev became the first man in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam semi-final on debut Tuesday, overcoming an injured Grigor Dimitrov in four sets at the Australian Open.</p>

Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev became the first man in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam semi-final on debut Tuesday, overcoming an injured Grigor Dimitrov in four sets at the Australian Open.