The name is Karatsev: Russian into semifinals
MELBOURNE — Aslan Karatsev will have no trouble with name recognition now.
With a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 win over 18th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov on Tuesday, the 114th-ranked Russian qualifier became the first man in the professional era to reach the semifinals in his Grand Slam debut.
His next assignment couldn’t get any more difficult. He has to play top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who is into the semifinals in Australia for the ninth time and has never lost a match at Melbourne Park after reaching the last four.
Djokovic has been bothered by an abdominal muscle problem but had enough grit to beat sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev in four tough sets in a 3 1/2-hour night match.
Just over a week ago, Karatsev was in the shadows of Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev on the Russia team that won the ATP Cup team title in Melbourne.
At the champions’ news conference, on the eve of the Australian Open, Russia coach Evgeny Donskoy pointed to a player to the left — Karatsev didn’t get to play a “live” match because Medvedev and Rublev were unbeaten in singles — and told everyone “you’re going to hear his name soon.”
That prediction has come true. All three Russians reached the quarterfinals. Two will feature in the semis.
The 27-year-old Karatsev started putting wins together on the secondary tier of international tennis late last year. Last month, he qualified for a Grand Slam tournament for the first time after nine failed attempts.
Now he has won five matches at Melbourne Park, and taken out three seeded players including Dimitrov — a three-time major semifinalist — No. 8 Diego Schwartzman and No. 20 Felix Auger-Aliassime.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Karatsev said. “Of course, it’s first time. First time in main draw; first time semis. It’s incredible.”
Now people are asking questions, starting with: Where have you been?
Here’s the summary he gives: born in Russia, moved to Israel at the age of 3, back to Russia with his father at 12, on to Moscow when he was 18, then stints in Germany and Spain. For the last three years — since he’s been working with coach Yahor Yatsyk — in Minsk, Belarus.
“He helps me a lot,” Karatsev said, “more the mental part.”