MADRID, 24 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and the Russian Karen Khachanov will meet in the semifinals of the Australian Open, the first ‘Grand Slam’ of the season, after beating the Czech Jiri Lehecka (6-3, 7- 6(2), 6-4) and the American Sebastian Korda (7-6(5), 6-3, 3-0 and retired), while the Kazakh Elena Rybakina and the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka will do the same after beating Latvian Jelena Ostapenko (6-2, 6-4) and American Jessica Pegula (6-4, 6-1), respectively.
In the last duel of the day at the Rod Laver Arena, Tsitsipas took a giant step in search of the first ‘big’ of his career by eliminating the Czech in three sets, who could not combat the aggressive tennis of his rival, who if he wins the trophy next Sunday would become world number one, moving up two places from his current third place.
A solitary ‘break’ was enough to win the first set, but he had to sweat a little more to win a second set that was decided in a ‘tie-break’ after neither of the two contestants managed to break their opponent’s serve.
Again, a break in the last game of the final set, after two hours and 19 minutes of play, gave victory to the Greek, who will play his fourth semifinal in Melbourne, the third in a row (2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023).
Now, he will face off with the Russian Karen Khachanov, who made it to the penultimate round for the second consecutive ‘Grand Slam’ after the withdrawal of the American Sebastian Korda due to an injury to his right wrist when the European clearly dominated the match. (7-6(5), 6-3, 3-0).
Khachanov, number 20 in the world, wasted a 5-2 lead in the first set, which the American managed to lead to a ‘tie-break’ after returning the break in the ninth game; however, he did not escape her in sudden death.
The Russian also claimed the second set after winning the last four games, leading 3-0 when Korda was forced to retire. Next Monday he will rise to number 13 in the ATP ranking.
In the women’s draw, the Kazakh Elena Rybakina and the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka will meet in the semifinals after beating the Latvian Jelena Ostapenko (6-2, 6-4) and the American Jessica Pegula (6-2, 6-4) on Tuesday in their quarterfinal duels. 6-4, 6-1), respectively.
In the first turn at the Rod Laver Arena, Rybakina, who arrived at the appointment after leaving number one Iga Swiatek on the way, started with a ‘break’ that allowed her to face the initial set with an advantage, which she took thanks to a new break in the fifth game.
Already in the second set, Ostapenko, winner of Roland Garros 2017, took advantage of one of the eight break opportunities she enjoyed in the duel (2-0), but the current Wimbledon champion linked four consecutive wins to ensure victory .
For her part, Azarenka, winner of the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013, returned ten years later to the semifinals of the ‘great’ oceanic after beating the number three in the world, the American Jessica Pegula, in two rounds.
In a long initial set that lasted for more than an hour, the Belarusian started 3-0 and, although the American returned the break in the ninth game, she responded with a ‘counterbreak’ to close the set, before ending the second winning the last four games after a break for each player in the previous ones.
