We obviously expected better from the first men's quarter-final of this Australian Open.

But Sebastien Korda's wrist decided otherwise on Tuesday.

It was therefore Karen Khachanov, 20th in the world, who easily qualified for the last four in Melbourne, after having benefited from the abandonment of his American opponent (31st in the world).

The Russian then led 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-0.

"Obviously that's not how I wanted the game to end," Khachanov said, adding that "the game was close until a certain point."

“He had beaten my friend Daniil (Medvedev) in three sets and Hubert (Hurkacz) in five sets, so we know he is playing well,” the 26-year-old Russian added of Sebastian Korda.

Already semi-finalist of the last US Open, Khachanov will face the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (4th) or the Czech Jiri Lehecka (71st) on Friday for a place in the final.

Note that he had never passed the third round in Melbourne until then.



Seven Rank Games Won Before Korda Abandoned

This Tuesday, he immediately took the advantage in the first set on Tuesday by breaking away 3-0.

But Korda took advantage of a drop in efficiency from the Russian on his serve, when he served at 5-3 for the set win, to catch up and take Khachanov to the decisive game.

The latter concluded the first set on his third set point.

From the start of the second set, Korda was under threat from Khachanov: he had to save a break point in the first game, then two in the third.

And it was at the end of the fifth game, when he was leading 3-2, that the American had his right wrist treated on the court.

From there, the game went one-on-one for Karen Khachanov, who won the next seven games before Korda threw in the towel.

Sport

Australian Open: Spectacular, son of a pro player… Who is Ben Shelton, the Melbourne revelation?

Sport

Australian Open: What is Andy Murray's secret to last 56 hours on a court?

  • Sport

  • Tennis

  • Australian Open 2023

  • melbourne

  • Grand Slam