Speed Post News Network
Patna : Top seed and eight-time champion Novak Djokovic, 33, Serbia, drubbed qualifier Aslan Karatsev, 27, Russia, in straight sets in semi-finals at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Australia, to reach the final of Australian Open (AO) 2021 on February 18, 2021. Defending champion Djokovic beat Karatsev 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in semi-finals stopping the giant killing run of the Russian World No 114.
Karatsev had stunned 8th seed Diego Schwartzman, Argentina, in 3rd round, 20th seed Felix Auger Aliassimme, Canada, in 4th round, and 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov, Bulgaria, in quarter-finals, en route semi-finals of AO 2021.
Djokovic won 6 break points during the match to 2 by the Russian. The Serbian World No 1 fired 17 Aces in the match to 6 by the Russian. Djokovic, in all, won 88 points during the match to 59 by Karatsev. The Serbian won 5 games in a row in the match to 3 by the Russian. Djokovic will face the winner of the second semi-finals between 4th seed Daniil Medvedev, Rusia, and 5th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, 22, Greece, to be held on February 19, 2021, in the final.