Australian Open 2023: If Stefanos Tsitsipas is in the quarterfinals, then he wins it too

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Stefanos Tsitsipas in his quarterfinals

Photo: FAZRY ISMAIL / EPA

Stefanos Tsitsipas has confirmed his status as Novak Djoković's closest title competitor at the Australian Open.

The 24-year-old Greek made it into the semi-finals in Melbourne for the fourth time with a commanding 6:3, 7:6 (7:2), 6:4 against the surprise Czech quarter-finalist Jiří Lehečka.

It stays the same: So far, Tsitsipas has always won the game when he has reached a quarterfinal in Grand Slam tournaments.

The fourth in the world rankings will play against Karen Chatschanov for the final ticket.

The Russian had previously benefited from a task by US hopeful Sebastian Korda.

At the score of 6-7 (5-7), 3-6, 0-3, Korda was unable to continue due to wrist problems and missed his first place in the last four of a Grand Slam.

“It got worse during the match.

I hit a forehand return early in the second set and then it was hard to hold the racquet at times," Korda said. "Now I have to go to the doctor and see what it is."

At times, Tsitsipas had trouble with Lehečka, who had not yet won a match in a Grand Slam tournament before the tournament.

But the more experienced player at the top level prevailed and can now reach his second major final after the French Open 2021.

At that time he lost in five sets against Djokovic.

aha/dpa