Australian Open 2021: Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev set to face Novak Djokovic in semifinal

Nine times Aslan Karatsev tried to reach a grand slam, only to stumble in qualifiers. That the Australian Open was a watershed moment makes his run into the final four even more remarkable.

Australian Open tennis. 16/02/2021. Day 9.. Grigor Dimitrov vs Aslan Karatsev on Rod Laver Arena. Aslan Karatsev rips a backhand during his 4set win . Pic: Michael Klein

Who is Aslan Karatsev? Don’t worry if you’re scratching your head. Even Novak Djokovic didn’t know a week ago.

The Russian qualifier has rewritten the history books in taking the Australian Open by storm, becoming the first debutant of the Open Era to reach the final four of a grand slam as he set up a semi-final with the world No.1 on Thursday night.

After crushing a hobbled Grigor Dimitrov in Tuesday’s quarter-final, the 27-year-old opened up about his remarkable journey – admitting he considered walking away from tennis altogether as knee injuries piled up on the unforgiving Challenger and Futures Tours.

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Aslan Karatsev has had an amazing run at the Australian Open.

Born in Vladikavkaz, a city of 310,000 in south-east Russia, Karatsev has spent his life moving around the world – to Israel, when he was three, and back to Russia, aged 12, with his father and then to Germany and later Barcelona to further his tennis career.

Nine times Karatsev tried to reach a grand slam, only to stumble in qualifiers. But only once did he consider throwing in the towel.

“There was a time when I was injured, that was a difficult time for me because I recovered after the injury,” Karatsev said.

“And then 2017 started, and I start to play again, and again, I felt the knee, and I said, whoa. I quit again for two-and-a-half months, almost three, and I think this is the most difficult part.”

Finally, he’s found his place in this tennis world with the extraordinary run at Melbourne Park netting him a guaranteed $850,000 payday and a shot at the world’s best.

Could he have imagined such a fairytale? Could 12 months ago Karatsev have envisaged taking on the 17-time grand slam winner and undisputed King of Melbourne Park in an Australian Open semi-final?

He laughs at the thought.

“Of course not. I mean, four months ago I was 100-something, 116th,” he said.

Aslan Karatsev is gunning for Novak Djokovic.

“My first step was okay, I will try to go to top 100 by the end of the year 2020, and it didn’t happen.”

Djokovic admits he’d never seen the unheralded Russian play prior to his giant-killing performances in Melbourne – but he’s embracing the story.

“Obviously for him, it’s the biggest success he has had so far,” Djokovic said.

“He doesn’t have anything to lose, really. He’s motivated. I expect him to come out and really go for his shots and try his best and try to take that win.”

And there will never be a better opportunity for Karatsev to win such a David and Goliath encounter, with Djokovic struggling with an abdominal injury picked up during his gruelling third-round win over Taylor Fritz.

With a trio of three-and-a-half hour contests, Djokovic has spent nearly 15 hours on court compared to Karatsev’s 11 hours – including two three straight-sets wins each wrapped up in under two hours.

Djokovic hadn’t heard much about Karatsev until now.

It all adds up, though Djokovic was optimistic that he’d pushed through the worst of the complaint.

“I have never experienced this kind of injury during a grand slam and kind of keep going,” he said after his exhausting quarter-final win over Alexander Zverev.

“But the positive thing is I actually felt the best today from the beginning of the second set until the end of the match that I have since the third round against Fritz when the injury happened.”

Cinderella story: Aus Open fairytale we all needed

Unheralded Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev came back to 200 unread messages after creating grand slam history by becoming the first debutant to reach the semi-finals.

It underlined the 27-year-old’s incredible Australian Open fairytale, which took another dramatic turn when he outlasted a crestfallen and ailing Grigor Dimitrov in four sets on Tuesday.

Dimitrov revealed he took a back injury into the contest that was so severe he couldn’t pull on his socks on the morning of the match.

For two sets, he survived on adrenaline and no one watching would’ve had any inkling he’d damaged it “out of the blue” the day before.

Aslan Karatsev is through to the Australian Open semis. Picture: Getty Images

Karatsev, ranked 114 in the world, took advantage of his hobbled rival to become the first male qualifier to reach the final four at the Australian Open since Bob Giltinan in 1977.

A physically shattered Dimitrov all but conceded defeat during a horrific third set as his injury flared up, leaving the Bulgarian struggling to walk.

“That’s sport. Super unlucky. I don’t know what else to say, it sucks,” said a devastated Dimitrov.

Welcome to the big first-time Slam semifinalist board, Aslan Karatsev.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/eRscUy4ISa

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) February 16, 2021

He becomes the latest high-profile injury casualty of the men’s draw, which in the past three days alone has either directly or speculatively brought an early end to the tournaments of third seed Dominic Thiem, ninth seed Matteo Berrettini and 24th seed Casper Ruud.

But for Dimitrov’s pain, there was incredible gain for Karatsev, who will now bank an $850,000 payday – more than doubling his $794,000 career winnings - regardless of his semi-final, where he’ll face the winner of world No.1 Novak Djokovic and sixth seed Alexander Zverev.

“Unbelievable feeling, of course. First time playing main draw, first time semis. It’s incredible,” Karatsev said.

On paper, the cards were well and truly stacked against Karatsev before he even took the court: history told us it was impossible.

Those odds lengthened when he dropped the first set in quick time. However, Karatsev responded to level the match, not knowing the drama that was about to hit.

Adrenaline pushed Dimitrov through two sets, he said, before the sky fell in early in the third.

Grigor Dimitrov takes a medical timeout during the match. Picture: Getty Images

With every tortured point from Dimitrov, Karatsev’s belief grew – quickly turning one break into two as his rival looked forlornly at his player box for answers.

Before long, he was a broken man.

On set point, the Bulgarian sent down a limp 109km/h serve and hobbled off as Karatsev thumped his 12th winner of the set into an open court, before immediately leaving for a medical timeout.

The treatment allowed him to return to Rod Laver Arena, but did not bring back the best of the world No.21, who limped to the finish line – so, he was asked, why come back at all?

“I don’t like quitting,” was the firm response.

“I’m definitely causing more harm on myself and my team… but you’re a competitor. I’m admitting my flaw (but) when you’re in the court sometimes you don’t think straight – and in that particular moment I didn’t want to give up. I couldn’t give up. That’s just how I am.”