Russian qualifier Karatsev’s fairy tale has happy ending

RUSSIAN qualifier Aslan Karatsev said he now felt he could play anyone after his sensational Australian Open run was finally halted by topranked Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

After knocking out three seeds on his Grand Slam debut, it took eighttime champion Djokovic to stop Karatsev and prevent him from creating more history by reaching the final.

The 27-year-old, who had never before qualified for a Grand Slam, will soar from 114 to 42 in the rankings and collects US$658,000 (RM2.7mil) in prize money, more than doubling his career earnings.

“That I can play with everyone,” he said, when asked what he had learned from the Melbourne tournament.

“To be there and to compete with everyone. I think it’ll help me a lot during my career ... It gives me more experience, more confidence.”

Thursday’s defeat ended a tennis fairy tale, after Karatsev became the first man in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam semi-final on debut.

He was also the lowest-ranked player to reach a major semi-final since Goran Ivanisevic, then the world No. 125, at Wimbledon in 2001.

His charmed campaign included wins over eighth seed Diego Schwartzmann, 20th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and injury-hit 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov.

Djokovic, however, was a different matter.

“There is a huge level, the difference is really big,” said the Vladikavkaz native.

“He doesn’t give you free points. On my serve it’s like every point you have to take, you have to play the rally.

“On my service games there’s always rallies, rallies. He served well all the match. Yeah, you’re under pressure.” —