Aslan Karatsev's Cinderella story and historic run continued after sensationally reaching the Australian Open semi-finals as Grigor Dimitrov struggled dramatically with injury on Tuesday. (More Sports News)
Former world number three Dimitrov won the opening set and was on track to move through in Melbourne, but he faded alarmingly due to a lower back problem.
Karatsev capitalised to oust his much-more fancied opponent – who was barely able to walk afterwards – 2-6 6-4 6-1 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena, the Russian qualifier and world number 114 becoming the first man in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals on his grand slam debut.
The unheralded 27-year-old also became just the second qualifier to advance to the Australian Open last four after Bob Giltinan in December 1977 as defending champion Novak Djokovic or Alexander Zverev await.
Dimitrov was aiming to reach his second Australian Open semi-final and the final four of a slam for the fourth time in his career, and the Bulgarian star started well.
After being broken in the third game, 18th seed Dimitrov put the set back on serve immediately as he took control of proceedings.
Dimitrov fired down four aces, won 82 per cent of his first serves, hit six winners and made just five unforced errors, while Karatsev's unforced-error count hit 19.
But just as Dimitrov – who had not dropped a set en route to the quarters – looked like the man to beat, he wilted in remarkable scenes as Karatsev won the second set to level the match.
Dimitrov's first-serve winners dipped to 69 per cent – his second serve extremely problematic – while his unforced errors grew to 15 in the second set – and Karatsev took advantage.
The third set was a write-off for Dimitrov, who headed to the locker room for medical treatment after Karatsev cruised to a two-sets-to-love lead.
There were remarkable scenes in the third set, Dimitrov virtually conceding as he was unable to keep up with Karatsev due to the바카라 웹사이트injury.
Dimitrov, who only won 12 points in the third set as he was unable to keep up with Karatsev or generate any바카라 웹사이트power on his serve, emerged for the fourth set but, while he tried to will himself on, it only delayed the inevitable in sad scenes.
Data Slam:바카라 웹사이트Karatsev joins Russian club
Karatsev became the fourth Russian man to reach the Australian Open semis in the Open Era, after Aleksandar바카라 웹사이트Metreveli바카라 웹사이트 (1972),바카라 웹사이트 Yevgeny바카라 웹사이트 Kafelnikov바카라 웹사이트 (1999-2000)바카라 웹사이트 and바카라 웹사이트 Marat바카라 웹사이트 Safin바카라 웹사이트 (2002, 2004-05).바카라 웹사이트He is also the lowest-ranked man to reach the semi-finals of a major바카라 웹사이트since Goran Ivanisevic (125)바카라 웹사이트at바카라 웹사이트Wimbledon in 2001.
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Dimitrov – 21/34
Karatsev바카라 웹사이트– 34/44
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Dimitrov – 9/7
Karatsev바카라 웹사이트– 9/6
BREAK POINTS WON
Dimitrov – 4/14
Karatsev바카라 웹사이트– 8/11
