(Aslan Karatsev)
Speed Post News Network
Patna : Qualifier Aslan Karatsev, 27, Russia, stunned 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov, 29, Bulgaria, in the quarter-finals at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Australia, to reach the semi-finals of Australian Open (AO) 2021 on February 16, 2021. World No 114 Aslan Karatsev beat World No 21 Grigor Dimitrov 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in a stunning comeback from one set down to be the first player to reach the SFs of AO 2021.
Karatsev had handed a shock defaet to 8th seed Diego Schwartzman, 28, Argentina, in 3rd round on February 12, 2021, and to 20th seed Felix Auger Aliassime, 20, Canada, in 4th round on February 14, 2021.
Both Karatsev and Dimitrov fired 9 Aces each during the match. The Russian, however, won 8 break points in the match to 4 by the Bulgarian World No 21. Karatsev won 7 games in a row during the match to 6 by the Bulgarian. The Russian, in all, won 110 points during the match to 93 by Dimitrov. Karatsev’s winning percentage both on his first and second serve ( 67 % & 63%) was much better than that of Dimitrov’s ( 60% & 54%). The Russian committed 6 double faults to 7 by the Bulgania.