Google News Watch: Novak Djokovic beats Karen Khachanov, the Highlights
by LORENZO CIOTTI
Novak Djokovic has qualified for the semifinals of the Roland Garros 2023. A fascinating challenge awaits him with the current number one Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. The performance of the Serbian against Philippe-Chatrier is very convincing, especially from a physical point of view given the more than three and a half hours of play in total, and practically gives no chance to a very good (especially in the first two sets) Karen Khachanov, who continues to amaze with his results in the Atp circuit (he will be top 10 from Monday).
The Russian starts stronger and manages to keep the rallies from the baseline, not suffering much even when he is called to defend himself with his forehand. The great energy immediately put on the field by the native of Moscow is rewarded in the fifth game: Khachanov gets the break in the fifth chance and scares the former number one in the world.
The eleventh seed in the draw resists and avoids any comeback attempt by the Belgrade native. The first partial is so deservedly from the Russian (6-4). In the second the two are very attentive in their respective rounds of service and practically do not allow opportunities for a break.
Karen, thanks to many winners and an important solidity when near the net, pushes Nole to the tie-break. In this crucial moment of the match, all of Djokovic's skill and talent takes over, forcing the opponent into various risky solutions and forcing several shots.
The result is a very clear 7-0, which restores the balance. The inertia inevitably shifts to the side of the Serbian, who is good at making it weigh in the delicate third set. This time Khachanov starts badly and immediately gives up the joke, finishing down 3-0 and then 5-2.
Two breaks ahead, the 36-year-old has no problem closing the set in his favor. In the fourth Djokovic, at the second opportunity, snatches the serve from his rival and tries to escape on 3-1. However, the Russian doesn't give up and gets himself some chances to recover the disadvantage.
He succeeds a little further on, impacting the score on 4-4. But it is only a flash that does not find the necessary continuity: in fact, Nole takes the break again and definitively closes the contest (6-4).
Video Credits: Roland Garros YouTube page
The women's quarters
The first semifinal was formed in the bottom half of the women's draw, after the first two quarterfinals scheduled on the Philippe-Chatrier.
The Czech Karolina Muchova practically never stops and even surpasses Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with a score of 7-5, 6-2, in the match that opens the calendar of matches on Tuesday 6 June. Few sparks in the eagerly awaited confrontation between Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka, who dominates and with great confidence conquers the pass to the semifinals at Roland Garros for the first time in her career.
At the end of the game, the Ukrainian player doesn't shake hands with the Belarusian, who has remained stationed near the net, and goes out a bit to the boos of the crowd.