The magical run for Alsan Karatsev continues. Djokovic is nowhere near ready to give way to the regime. The first half of the semis is set.
Aslan Karatsev def. (18) Grigor Dimitrov: 2–6, 6–4, 6–1, 6–2
No one could have guessed the qualifier from Russia would be here. John and Pat McEnroe almost seemed disgusted that cinderellas carriage hadn’t turned into a pumpkin yet. They were shameless in ripping on Karatsev all match. It was borderline unprofessional. They were just openly anti-Karatsev, it was odd. It was a shame Grigor started to get back spasm which completely shut him down from being able to compete. He gutted it out, but it was tough to watch. He simply couldn’t move. The Bulgarinan played a great tournament and deserved a better fate than this. Have to give all the credit in the world to Karatsev though. He lost the first set but just continued to battle in the second to stay in the match and now is in his first ever grand slam semi in his first ever major. He has essentially spent his whole career in the minor leagues and is now playing vs the world number 1 in the Aussie Open Semis. What a story. Guys gotta be on the Russian gas.
(1)Novak Djokovic def. (6) Alexander Zverev: 6(6)-7(8), 6–2, 6–4, 7(8)-6(6)
Djokovic’s abdominal issue has left a question mark over him for his last two matches. After dropping the first set to a hungry Zverev, it could have very easily been a match where someone from the younger class of elite players can finally break through vs. the old guard in a grand slam. Nope. Djokovic ripped off three straight sets and calmly dapped up Zverev at the net on his way to other Australian Open Semi. As talented as this new wave of players are, they just are not Joker, Rafa or Fed. Which is okay. But while either of those 3 are around, grand slams will be hard to come by from anyone else.
