Stavolta non ci sono state sorprese. Novak Djokovic (ATP 1) non ha deluso le attese e ha conquistato l'accesso alla nona finale in carriera agli Australian Open grazie alla vittoria sulla sorpresa del torneo, il qualificato Aslan Karatsev (114), ottenuta con il punteggio di 6-3 6-4 6-2.
Dopo aver sconfitto tra gli altri Diego Schwartzman (9), Felix Auger-Aliassime (19) e Grigor Dimitrov (21), il russo non ha avuto timore nemmeno contro il numero 1 al mondo, giocandosela alla pari per ampi tratti. Nel primo set, solo all'ottavo game il serbo è riuscito a insinuare il dubbio nell'avversario, rubandogli il servizio. Pazza la seconda frazione, con Nole che pareva avviato ad un facile successo frutto di due break di vantaggio, ma quando il più sembrava fatto il 27enne si è risvegliato andando vicinissimo all'incredibile recupero (due break point non sfruttati che sarebbero valsi il 5 pari). Con l'incontro ormai avviato sui binari del favorito, Karatsev ha provato il tutto per tutto nel terzo set, ma il 33enne ha fatto valere la maggior classe ed esperienza chiudendo la pratica in 1h54'.
A giocarsi il primo Slam dell'anno con il serbo sarà uno tra Daniil Medvedev (4) e Stefanos Tsitsipas (6), impegnati domani (diretta su RSI). Da notare che nelle otto precedenti finali a Melbourne, Djokovic ha sempre vinto.
Australian Open, il match point di Djokovic-Karatsev (18.02.2021)
RSI Sport 18.02.2021, 12:50
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