Stefanos Tsitsipas blasted into a fourth Australian Open semi-final on Tuesday and a showdown with Karen Khachanov as he zeroes in on a maiden Grand Slam title. The Greek third seed proved too powerful for unseeded Czech Jiri Lehecka on Rod Laver Arena, storming home 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
He will face the Russian 18th seed Khachanov for a place in his first Melbourne Park final, having crashed in the semis three times previously, including in the past two years. Russia’s Khachanov booked his place when American Sebastian Korda retired hurt with a wrist injury while trailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-0.
“It felt different this time from any other match and the most important thing in the end is that I found a solution,” said Tsitsipas, who will become world number one should he win the title.
Novak Djokovic can also achieve the feat if he does the same. It was a very difficult three-setter, one of the most difficult so far in the competition,” added Tsitsipas, 24.
“Jiri had a very good tournament, he’s started playing very well recently. He’s a great player. I had to deal with his groundstrokes, which were coming over the net much heavier and deeper, so that was a task where I really had to put my heart out there and give it my best,” he added.
Source: eNCA
In other news – VIDEO: ‘I don’t know what happened with him, he was a healthy guy’ – Connie Ferguson on her late husband, Shona
The death of actor and producer Shona Ferguson sent shockwaves throughout the world, and it is still hard to comprehend that he is gone.
The actor died at the Milpark private hospital in Johannesburg on 30 July 2021, due to Covid-19-related complications. Learn more
