Comeback kid Karatsev ‘ready for everyone’

Qualifier Aslan Karatsev caused a major upset at the Australian Open today, with an upset 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Karatsev will face either third seed Dominic Thiem or 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals.

Two sets down and on his way out of the event, Karatsev turned it around in amazing fashion, not losing a service game for the rest of the match.

The Russian broke Auger-Aliassime’s serve at 2-2 in the third set and never looked back.

Felix Auger-Aliassime in action against Aslan Karatsev. Photo: Tennis Australia/ LUKE HEMER

He raced through the third and fourth sets before setting up a deciding fifth.

The Russian broke Auger-Aliassime in the Canadian’s second service game and never really looked back.

Karatsev earned three match points at 5-4, then hit a superb forehand winner to claim a brilliant win.

“It was really tough in the beginning to play with him,” Karatsev said.

Aslan Karatsev face either Dominic Thiem Grigor Dimitrov in the next round. Photo: Tennis Australia/ LUKE HEMER

“He’s a really good player, he’s really fast and it took me two sets to find how to play.”

Karatsev will face either third seed Dominic Thiem or 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals.

“I’ll be ready for everyone,” he said.

Peter Rowe

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