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Bulgarian top tennis player Grigor Dimitrov faces Australian Open surprise Aslan Karatsev (114th in the world) in a battle for participation in the semi-finals. The meeting between the two began at 6 o’clock at the Rod Laver Arena.
It’s the quarterfinal time in the #AusOpen
Will be ???????? @GrigorDimitrov or @AsKaratsev ???????? go one step further? pic.twitter.com/hIETNNn0tW
– ATP Tour (@atptour) February 16, 2021
Dimitrov achieved 4 consecutive victories and only spent 6:37 hours on the court. He eliminated Marin Cilic, Alex Bolt, Pablo Carenho Busto and Dominic Thiem.
More interesting is the story of Karatsev, who until a month ago in Doha surpassed the qualifications for a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. At 28, he won his matches in three sets against Gianluca Mager, Egor Gerasimov and number 8 Diego Schwartzman. In the round of 16 he achieved a change from 0: 2 to 3: 2 against Felix Auger-Aliasim.
Grigor: Karatsev is very dangerous and should not be underestimated
This match is the quarterfinal for Grigor Dimitrov in Australia. So far, Dimitrov has won nine of his ten qualifying matches at Grand Slam tournaments, and his only loss to a lower-ranked player than Karatsev was 24,224 at the time, Stan Wawrinka in the 2018 Wimbledon first round.
GRIGOR DIMITROV – ASLAN KARATSEV 1: 2 (6: 2, 4: 6, 1: 6)
FIRST SET
Grigor Dimitrov kicked off his serve and very quickly scored three points in a row to close the match to 0. However, the Russian tennis player also started his serve convincingly and scored two consecutive points before serving the ball. He then took a point, but double faulted for 40:30, but still closed his serve by 1: 1.
The Bulgarian was extremely indecisive on his second serve and this allowed Aslan Karatsev to make a breakthrough.
However, Grisho managed to return the advance very quickly the next time Karatsev served. He managed to make some good plays and two wonderful returns brought the parity back.
Dimitrov started his next serve strong after hitting two aces. The third serve of the game was easier, but after the play he managed to add a third consecutive point, and then he managed to close the part to 0 in just 78 seconds.
The sixth match of the set, in which the Bulgarian started well, turned out to be the most played since the start of the match. He went ahead with 30:15, but Karatsev managed to equalize with a great service on the right, which left Dimitrov no chances. A long play followed, in which the Russian managed to attack more successfully, made it difficult for the Bulgarian and scored the ball diagonally, forcing Dimitrov to take it out. After that, however, Karatsev was hampered by Dimitrov’s return to reach 40:40. A good first serve followed with Karatsev on the right, but Dimitrov managed to return the ball, forcing the Russian out to the net and making it as difficult as possible, leading the result. However, Karatsev managed to equalize again. On the next play, Karatsev sent the ball into the net and Dimitrov got a second chance to break, but on the return the Bulgarian sent the ball for a third tie. The Bulgarian reached third break point after a double error by Karatsev. Thus, for the third time and after a long play, in which Dimitrov stayed on the goal line, Karatsev still made a mistake and sent the ball to the net for the second advance of the Bulgarian.
The three games in a row they won gave Grigor extra confidence, who played a quick game at home, hitting two aces and closing the part without giving his opponent a chance.
The Bulgarian was uncompromising in the eighth of the set. He managed to make a third consecutive breakthrough, allowing Karatsev to make just one point.
Dimitrov approves of that start ????
He takes the first set 6-2 against Karatsev.@ Australia Open | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/2wynjO4y9t
– ATP Tour (@atptour) February 16, 2021
SECOND SET
The second set started just as hard as the first. Dimitrov’s serve was excellent and he closed another serve without hitting Karatsev. This was the sixth consecutive game for Grigor Dimitrov in the match. In the last 3 games, Karatsev won only 1 point.
The second game of the set was much more interesting. At 15:15 the two tennis players managed to make one of the longest plays of the match so far, in which Dimitrov managed to take the point and lead in the result. However, Karatsev’s good serve and equalization followed, but still with masterful play, Dimitrov managed to fool the opponent, expecting a diagonal kick, and Dimitrov sent the ball to the right. So he led with 40:30 and got the first break point of the set, which he, however, wasted after a mistake on the return leg. However, after a long play, the Bulgarian reached the second break point, which, however, also missed with a shot wide. Karatsev made another mistake after a failed backhand and for the third time Dimitrov got a chance to rehearse, but this time the Russian managed after a very good play. Thus, Aslan Karatsev had the first opportunity to close the match after beating Grisho in the playoffs. However, a new tie was reached after Karatsev sent the ball into the net in a game that takes 9 minutes. An unprovoked error by Karatsev and a fourth chance for Dimitrov to break through followed, but this time it didn’t work: the ball went out. Karatsev made another slight mistake and once again Dimitrov was in a good position to break through, but the Bulgarian made a backhand error for the sixth draw. Karatsev served hard on the right, which made it difficult for Dimitrov, who could not return and sent the ball into the net, giving the Russian an advantage, and after the subsequent play he managed to take the game with a beautiful shot from the right. The game lasted 12:36 minutes.
This success obviously gave wings to Karatsev, who scored two consecutive points on Dimitrov’s serve, but the Bulgarian managed to take matters into his own hands and draw at 30:30, then lead by 40:30 after a ball. on the opponent’s out then to close the game.
Aslan Karatsev still managed to take the serve and hurt the score in games – 2: 2.
The Russian tennis player made a good game next, after which he managed to make a breakthrough and lead the result. In the second game in a row he made no mistakes, which led to the successful completion of the part.
Grigor Dimitrov managed to return the advance very quickly. He took the lead with 40:30, and Karatsev made a double mistake that helped the Bulgarian even the score.
Grisho managed to win his service and erase the doubts he had in Karatsev’s advance.
However, Aslan Karatsev managed to take his serve, ending the game with an ace, which he made after reaching a speed of more than 200 km / h.
Grigor Dimitrov managed to save a break point in the next game. He was about to make another breakthrough, but it hit a long play. Although at first glance Karatsev led the game, Dimitrov managed to defend and make a good attack, after which he tied at 40:40. The seventh ace followed from the start of the match and Dimitrov had an advantage in the game, but the Russian managed to save himself and level things out. However, the Bulgarian made a double mistake and this gave Karatsev another chance to make a breakthrough and this time he did.
In the 10th of the second set Aslan Karatsev reached 40: 0 with his serve and three consecutive set balls. He managed to win the first after Dimitrov sent the ball.
Defend yourself ????
???????? @AsKaratsev Level up and take the second set 6-4 against Dimitrov.@ Australia Open | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/9eWAx1a5E1
– ATP Tour (@atptour) February 16, 2021
THIRD SET
Grigor Dimitrov started his serve hesitantly in the third set, allowing the opponent two points. However, he joined in and managed to win the serve. A match followed, in which Aslan Karatsev managed to win his serve smoothly, leveling the score in the set.
The third game started badly for Dimitrov, who again allowed his opponent to make two consecutive points similar to the previous serve. However, the Bulgarian managed to equalize with a direct point from service and then a return, after which Karatsev sent the ball into the net at 30:30. However, this was not enough in the game, as Karatsev made a good exit to the net, and the ball hit the fillet and returned to Dimitrov’s field. However, the Russian failed to take advantage of the first break point and reached a draw, then Dimitrov took the lead after a good serve. The new tie came with a short ball released by Dimitrov, Karatsev’s net and a good diagonal, which left the Bulgarian defenseless. A tiebreaker followed, in which Dimitrov sent the ball and a second break point for Karatsev, which the qualifier managed to win with a wonderful return.
A good new game followed for Aslan Karatsev, who managed to lead 3: 1 in the third set. The Russian gained a lot of momentum and almost everything he tries to do is successful.
This was evident in the next part of the match, when Karatsev took a 30-0 lead on a serve from Dimitrov. A new great comeback followed and a new point for Karatsev. Dimitrov shows serious fluctuations in the playoffs. However, the Bulgarian managed to return a point. Dimitrov obviously has some problems, and Karatsev managed to make another breakthrough and took the lead with 4: 1.
Dimitrov’s obvious problems with physics continue into the next game, which Karatsev closed at 15.
The Bulgarian only finished the part and didn’t even bother to chase the balls, which Karatsev returned. He barely makes it to the bank.
MEDICAL TIME – After the end of the set a doctor timeout was announced to help Grigor Dimitrov.
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