Karen Khachanov (ATP 20) is the first qualified for the semi-finals of the Australian Open. The Russian won before the limit in front of Sebastian Korda (31), forced to retire.
Injured in the wrist, the American threw in the towel while the Russian was leading 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 3-0. Korda will not thus materialize his somewhat crazy dream of winning the Australian Open 25 years following his father Petr. He asked for the intervention of the healer at 3-2 in his favor in the 2nd set. He had to lose the next 7 games before giving up.
Semi-finalist last year in New York once morest Casper Ruud, Khachanov rose to 26 for the second time in his career in the last four of a Grand Slam tournament. His next opponent will be the winner of the meeting between Stefanos Tsitsipas (4) and the Czech Jiri Lehecka (71). With only one meeting that has exceeded three hours – his round of 16 once morest Frances Tiafoe – since the start of the fortnight, Khachanov will approach this semi-final in the best of moods.
ats/adav
