Novak Djokovic has overcome a first-set blip to beat Karen Khachanov 4-6 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 6-4 and attain the French Open semi-finals, staying on target for a record-breaking twenty third males’s singles Grand Slam title.
The twice-Roland Garros champion couldn’t discover a weak point within the Eleventh-seeded Khachanov’s serve at first, however as soon as he took the second set tiebreak there was no wanting again for the Serbian.
He might be carefully watching Tuesday’s night time match between world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, whose winner would be the final man standing between him and a seventh French Open last.
On court docket Philippe Chatrier the 36-year-old didn’t have a single break alternative and regarded a tad sluggish within the opening set, however his metronomic recreation finally clicked and there was little the Russian may do to cease his opponent’s march into the final 4.
“He was the better player for most of the first two sets, I was struggling to find my rhythm, I came into this a bit sluggish,” Djokovic mentioned.
“Then I played a perfect tiebreak and from that moment onwards I played a couple of levels higher.
“He has a giant serve however perhaps would not transfer as properly so I attempted to reveal him and performed unpredictable. It was a giant combat however that is what you anticipate from a grand slam quarter-final.”
Khachanov broke Djokovic’s serve to lead 3-2 and, although the world No.3 threatened in a 10-minute ninth game, the Russian held and went on to pocket the set.
There were no break points in the second set but Khachanov started to struggle, failing to score a point in the tiebreak as Djokovic levelled the contest.
Djokovic got the early break thanks to a netcord in the third and stole Khachanov’s serve again to move one set from victory with apparent ease.
The Serbian broke again early in the fourth set, only to serve a double fault that allowed Khachanov to level for 4-4 and keep his slim hopes of an upset alive.
But he was damaged to like within the following recreation, shedding eight factors in a row as Djokovic ended the competition with an ace.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
