Novak Djokovic edges out Alexander Zverev to achieve Australian Open semi-final

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic overcame some dips in type to beat Alexander Zverev 6-7(6) 6-2 6-4 7-6(6) and e-book his place within the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday.
The Serbian world primary hit again strongly after shedding a good opening set on a tiebreak however trailed in each the third and fourth units earlier than turning them round.

?? 2008?? 2011?? 2012?? 2013?? 2015?? 2016?? 2019?? 2020
2021? #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/YZ5MpuLVgy
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 16, 2021
Germany’s Zverev will rue permitting Djokovic again from 4-1 down within the third set and he was additionally up 3-0 within the fourth.
Djokovic once more wore tape on his belly space, a legacy of the harm picked up in his third-round win over Taylor Fritz. But it didn’t seem to trouble him as he reached his thirty ninth Grand Slam semi-final, the place he’ll face an unlikely opponent in Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev.
The 23-year-old Zverev started in assured vogue and secured the primary break of the match however didn’t convert a set level on Djokovic’s serve when main 5-3.
He wavered on his personal serve at 5-4 although, and Djokovic took the set right into a tiebreak, just for some uncharacteristic errors to permit Zverev to sneak a 59-minute set.
Djokovic wanted solely 29 minutes to win the second set however his degree dropped at the beginning of the third, and he destroyed a racket in anger as he slipped 4-1 behind.

Serving for a spot within the #AusOpen semifinals 🎯#AO2021 pic.twitter.com/lWrTm37mkl
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 16, 2021
Zverev was 0-30 forward on Djokovic’s serve within the subsequent recreation however Djokovic discovered one other gear, successful 20 of the subsequent 24 factors to maneuver one set from victory.
Another momentum shift noticed Zverev take a 3-0 lead within the fourth set and have three factors to maneuver 4-0 forward, however Djokovic dug in to haul himself again into competition.
Zverev threatened to take the match right into a decider however Djokovic saved a set level at 5-6 with an ace and a strong first serve introduced up match level within the day’s second tiebreak.
Djokovic netted a backhand however compelled a volley error from Zverev to earn one other probability, this time on his personal serve, and he wrapped up the match together with his twenty third ace.
QUALIFIER KARATSEV INTO MELBOURNE SEMIS
Qualifier Aslan Karatsev continued his beautiful run into the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday, beating an ailing Grigor Dimitrov 2-6 6-4 6-1 6-2 to develop into the primary man within the open period to achieve the final 4 in his maiden Grand Slam.
The world quantity 114 was additionally solely the fifth qualifier to achieve the final 4 of a males’s main within the open period and the lowest-ranked participant to achieve a Grand Slam semi-final for twenty years.

Semifinal sure ??????@AsKaratsev turns into the primary man within the Open Era to achieve the semifinals in a Grand Slam debut ??@Kia_Worldwide | #Kia | #MovementThatInspires | #KiaTennis pic.twitter.com/SDQn5BCWhb
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 16, 2021
The Russian, whose success at stepping into the Australian Open got here on his tenth try to qualify for a Grand Slam, will meet eight-times champion Novak Djokovic for a spot within the ultimate.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling, first time main draw, first time semis,” stated the 27-year-old, whose victory was marked solely by canned applause with followers nonetheless banned from Melbourne Park due to a five-day coronavirus lockdown.
With Karatsev’s ATP Cup staff mates Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev going through off in a quarter-final on Wednesday, Russia are assured to have two gamers within the semi-finals and will but present each finalists.
“I try not to think about it, I just look at the next match,” stated Karatsev when requested in regards to the prospect.