Google News
Aslan Karatsev, 28, admitted he was really happy to be voted as the Most Improved Player of the Year at the 2021 ATP awards. Karatsev made a stunning start to the season when he made the Australian Open semifinal as a qualifier.
Karatsev's run at Melbourne Park came to an end following a straight-set defeat to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Karatsev didn't stop there as soon after he captured his maiden ATP title in Dubai. Also, Karatsev broke into the top-15 this year.
“I am really happy to win this award,” Karatsev said, per the ATP website. “It means a lot to me and I am really happy to get this. Thank you very much”.
Karatsev's hard work paid off
“It’s not just happening right now, there is [a lot of] work that was done before [to get here],” Karatsev said in April.
“I had some injuries before and some troubles, and now we’re doing a good job with my coach. It’s been two and a half years and it’s just paying off in 2021... It’s coming from the hard work every day, and it’s a long process.
You have to be there every day and work hard”. Karatsev's season finished on the best possible way as he captured his maiden Davis Cup title with Russia at the Davis Cup Finals. "Well, definitely I want to congratulations my team.
They did an unbelievable job," Karatsev said. "Of course, it's something special when you win a Davis Cup. It's something emotional, more historic than ATP Cup, but still unbelievable tournament. "Yeah, I'm just so proud. Nothing more to say." A month earlier, Karatsev fulfilled his childhood dream and won it all in Moscow.
“It is a dream come true,” Karatsev said in his on-court interview after winning Moscow. “It is a tournament where I have played in qualifying at and now I am winning the tournament. Thank you for all of your support."