The fourth will have been good for Tsitsipas. The Greek wins in four sets against Khachanov, on his fourth match point, and offers himself a first final in Melbourne, for his fourth appearance in half.
Incisive in the exchange, very good on the return, the Greek dominated a large part of the match against the Russian. But Khachanov, back to the wall, played his all to save two match points in the third set and snatch the tie-break, before lowering the intensity in the next round. Tsitsipas will play his second Grand Slam final on Sunday, and awaits the winner of the match between Novak Djokovic and Tommy Paul.
Australian Open
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The point of the match: Tsitsipas tears up to bring back a smash before crucifying Khachanov
Tsitsipas sharp on return
There was no observation round in this semi-final, like this exchange of 25 high-intensity blows from the second game. Faced with the power of Khachanov, Tsitsipas offered a varied game in backhand, going under the ball to break the rhythm and attempting successful drop shots. The Greek quickly managed the break, but Khachanov reacted perfectly by putting more intensity to unbreak immediately.
Very inspired on the return throughout the match, Tsitsipas broke again but then committed two double faults, embellished with a warning for exceeding time, and returned his service once again immediately to the Russian. While he seemed in control, the Greek then found himself in danger, trailing 0-30 to 5-5 after a second warning for overtime. Far from getting annoyed, the Greek chained four points then played a perfect decisive game, helped by the faults of Khachanov, tense.
In front of the score despite a faulty first ball (46% in the first set), the 4th in the world then erased these swings in concentration and regained his quality of service (18 aces, 64% of first serves) to dictate the pace of the match against to a Khachanov deprived of time and solutions. The Russian dismissed three break points at 1-1 thanks to his serve, before cracking at 4-4. Khachanov then committed two unforced errors before Tsitsipas won the point of the match, bringing back three consecutive smashes in the manner of an Andy Murray before reversing the exchange then pocketing a decisive break.
Khachanov wakes up with his back to the wall
Khachanov then found himself facing a hell of a challenge, against an opponent he had never beaten in five confrontations. Quickly broken in the third set, hampered throughout the round by the aggressiveness of Tsitsipas on the return, he hung on to force the Greek to serve to conclude. Suddenly more tense, the finalist of Roland-Garros two years ago suffered the last stand of an opponent suddenly relaxed and aggressive. While he hadn’t had a chance to break since the first set, the Russian cracked Tsitsipas on a last complicated smash, then saved two match points with style in the decisive game to come back from very far and relaunch. But it was indeed a last stand.
Leaving the court with his bag on his shoulder, Tsitsipas returned to the track with a clear mind. Faced with a demobilized Khachanov after the end of the third set with twists and turns, the Greek broke from the start, then rolled out on his face-offs to conclude on his fourth opportunity. As in Paris two years ago, the 4th in the world will play the final of a Grand Slam on Sunday – and will become world No. 1 if successful. But, as in Paris two years ago, he could find Djokovic on his way.
Australian Open
Khachanov, the Russian leader that we had ended up forgetting
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Australian Open
When Djokovic forgets RG 2021: “Tsitsipas has never played a GC final, if I’m not mistaken…”
01/24/2023 At 12:49 PM