By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Major multi-tasker Novak Djokovic continues to master all Melbourne challenges.

Djokovic conquered both Alexander Zverev and a strained abdominal earning a 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(8) victory surging into his ninth Australian Open semifinal after a dramatic three hour, 30-minute duel.

More: Nadal Healing, Back Improving

Defending champion Djokovic is aiming for his record-extending ninth Australian Open title—and 18th major championship as he tries to close the gap on 20-time Grand Slam champions Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the all-time race.

Exceptional serving empowered Djokovic to his 19th consecutive Australian Open win, including his 11th straight Melbourne victory against a Top 10 opponent. Djokovic served 73 percent, slashed 23 aces, including an ace to save a set point at 5-6 in the fourth set, and denied nine of 12 break points.

Down 1-4, love-30 in the third set, Djokovic elevated his game surging through five straight games and seizing 12 of the final 14 points in snatching a two sets to one lead.

"It's hard to pick one moment in the match where I feel like things have shifted, because it was really anybody's game," Djokovic said. "It was really a roller coaster of a match in every sense of that word. You know, I didn't start well. It took me time to really warm up and start to feel better in terms of movement, rotation, in terms of hitting.

"Towards the end of the first I start to feel better on the court, and then I also played better. It was just a tough match. I mean, I feel really exhausted. It was a great battle. We took each other, pushed each other to the limit. And kind of walking into this match today, I knew that's going to be probably the toughest match I have so far in the tournament, and it was like that. Until the last serve, it was really anybody's game."

The sixth-seeded Zverev said ultimately it was a match of missed opportunity.

"For me, the most upsetting parts in the third and fourth sets were actually not losing my serve but not getting the second breaks," Zverev said. "Because I had chances in both those sets getting, you know, being up 4-0 or 5-1, that would have changed things, I think, a lot. Yeah. That's it.

"It was a great match. I think we both played well. I think Novak probably said the same thing, that we played well. But, yeah, I'm definitely not happy with the result."

On his second match point, Djokovic zapped his 23rd ace down the T to close in three hours, 30 minutes.

It was Djokovic’s sixth win over Zverev in eight meetings and sends him into a semifinal clash vs. Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev, the Cinderella story of the tournament.

The unheralded Karatsev continued his inspired run dispatching a pained Grigor Dimitrov 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 to seal a milestone. The 114th-ranked Russian is the first man in Open Era history to reach the semifinals of his Grand Slam debut and is the lowest-ranked man advance to the Australian Open final four since 114th-ranked Patrick McEnroe in 1991.

“Of course it's amazing that I passed to semifinal from qualifying, qualification,” Karatsev said. “I'm just trying to enjoy the moment and not thinking about that too much and playing from round to round.”

The 18th-seeded Dimitrov, who toppled US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the fourth round, said he suffered back spasms yesterday that he said flared up today making it a struggle to put on his socks before the match. Dimitrov cruised through the opening set but looked clearly compromised and could not stretch or move much over the final two sets.

“I didn't see any of that coming. It was like one of the first times that I actually felt that well at a slam,” Dimitrov said. “I haven't lost a set, moving well, serving well. I felt like finally all the components were kind of coming through without doing any extra effort. I actually don't know what else to say.

“It sucks. Again, it's sport. Just you never know. That's why you have to keep on trying to the end. You know, I give respect to the guy, as well. He saw me struggling and he kept on doing what he had to do. That's it.”

Now Djokovic is one win from a ninth AO final and while he says his knowledge of Karatsev's game is "not much" the world No. 1 delivered a thorough scouting report of his semifinal opponent.

"I have not seen him play honestly before Australian Open. I have seen him play during the tournament here, and he impressed me, impressed a lot of people," Djokovic said. "His movement, his firepower from baseline. Flat backhand, Russian school, great backhand. Looks to run around. Also hits some good forehands, dictate the play.

"And he is impressive. I mean, two sets down against Felix coming back. Today as well he was just very solid against Grigor. Unfortunately, and obviously Grigor couldn't play at his best from the end of that second, beginning of the third. But he's there for a reason, and congratulate him for great success. It's going to be our first encounter. Hoping I can be physically fit and looking forward to it."