Australian Open 2021: “It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s incredible,” Aslan Karatsev after reaching his maiden Grand Slam SF


Australian Open 2021: “It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s incredible,” Aslan Karatsev after reaching his maiden Grand Slam SF
Aslan Karatsev

In what can be considered as a great feat, Aslan Karatsev reaches the semifinals in his Grand Slam debut. He came in Australia to play in a first Grand Slam main draw for the first time, and he’ll leave owning a piece of history.

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The 114th-ranked qualifier from Russia become the first man in the professional era to reach the semifinals in his Grand Slam debut when he beat 18th-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 2-6,6-4,6-1,6-2.

Dimitrov looked sharp early, but at the beginning of the third set he began to show severe limitations in his service motion and movement, handing a perfect chance to the Russian which he capitalized.

“It was really tough in the beginning for me, to hold my nerves”: Aslan Karatsev

The Russian will now take on either world number one Novak Djokovic – another star struggling through a persistent injury – or sixth seed Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.

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In the post-interview, he said that he was nervous before the match and didn’t knew Dimitrov had a bit of injury.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling. Of course it’s my first time playing [a Grand Slam] main draw, first time [in the] semis,” Karatsev said. “It’s incredible.”

“It was really tough from the beginning for me to hold the nerves. It was really tricky,” Karatsev said. “I tried to find a way how to play and then in the third set he felt the back.”

There is a possibility for an All-Russian final on Sunday and Karatsev was asked the same. He respnded: “I try not to think about it I try to think like to play every match they’re going from match to match.”

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Also read: Australian Open 2021: Grigor Dimitrov crashes out after losing to Aslan Karatsev