Published February 18, 2021, 10:06 AM
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates beating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in their men’s singles quarterfinal match on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 16, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP)
Novak Djokovic will look to stay on track for an 18th Grand Slam title, while Serena Williams has the formidable figure of Naomi Osaka blocking her path to a record-equalling 24th when the Australian Open semifinals begin on Thursday.
Around 7,500 fans will be back on a reduced capacity Rod Laver Arena, after a five-day state coronavirus lockdown, but Djokovic will be in unknown territory in the night match against Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev, who he has never played before.
Australian Open 2021: Wounded champ Djokovic wary of Karatsev, a qualifier with nothing to lose
Djokovic has won 19 straight matches at the Australian Open, but Karatsev is undaunted saying he is loving the attention. AFP
Novak Djokovic has won eight Australian Open titles but will step into unknown territory on Thursday when he faces a Russian qualifier “with nothing to lose” in the first men’s semi-final.
The world number one, who has been hampered by an abdominal injury, confessed that he had not seen much of tournament surprise Aslan Karatsev, but what little he did know convinced him not to take the world number 114 lightly.
The 33-year-old Serb, showing no ill-effects from an abdomen injury sustained in the third round, overwhelmed the 114th-ranked Aslan Karatsev 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to reach his 28th Grand Slam final.
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