By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday February 14, 2021
Aslan Karatsev is doing the unthinkable at this year’s Australian Open.
The 27-year-old Russian qualifier battled past Felix Auger-Aliassime on Sunday in Melbourne, rallying from two sets down to win 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to book his spot in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open.
That, in and of itself, is remarkable, given that Karatsev had never played a five-setter before, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg for the Russian.
Karatsev is making his Grand Slam main draw debut and has now become the first player to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam on his major singles debut in 25 years. Not since Alex Radulescu reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 1996 has a player achieved the feat.
Karatsev is also the first Australian Open Debutant to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals since 1998, and the 14th ATP qualifier to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam in the Open Era—and the first since Bernard Tomic in 2011 at Wimbledon.
The crazy stats don’t stop there. Karatsev is also the lowest-ranked player, at 114, to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals since 1991.
It’s a remarkable rise for a player that entered this tournament with a 3-10 lifetime ATP record.
But the Russian isn’t done yet. It’s clear that Karatsev, who will face Grigor Dimitrov for a spot in the semifinals, wants more.
“You told me just now that I broke some records,” he said. “Of course it's a good feeling, but I try to more focusing on the tournament, on the matches.”
Is he surprised by his success this week in Melbourne. Well, maybe…
“I try not to show that,” he said with a laugh. “Yeah, it's a good feeling.”