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Stefanos Tsitsipas has reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the fourth time in the past five years and will now face Russian Karen Khachanov for a place in Sunday’s final.
The third seed made it six out of six in the last eight at a major with a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 victory over 21-year-old Lehecka, who had never won a Grand Slam match before coming to Australia.
The young Czech had beaten Cameron Norrie and Felix Auger-Aliassime to make the quarter-finals but was broken in the first service game and, although he put in a convincing display, it was not enough to take a set from Tsitsipas.
“I can say it was a fair dinkum show,” Tsitsipas told the court. “It feels different this time than other times, but I found a solution.
“I have to deal with the groundstrokes that come at me heavy and deep. I put my heart out there.”
The Greek, who along with Novak Djokovic still has a chance to finish the tournament as world No. 1, will face Khachanov. in the semifinals on Saturday.
Sebastian Korda retired with a wrist injury during his match with Khachanov, sending the Russian to his second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal.
American Korda has been one of the stories of the tournament, beating Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz to reach his first major quarter-final 25 years after his father Petr lifted the trophy.
But he began to struggle halfway through the second set, received medical time, and, after losing seven games in a row, called quits, behind 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 3-0.
It was a very disappointing way to bow out for the 22-year-old, who was in obvious discomfort and reduced to chopping forehands in a vain attempt to find a way back into the match.
After reaching the last four of a Slam for the first time at his 23rd major tournament at the US Open last summer, Khachanov is now back on the same stage at the next event.
“Back-to-back semi-finals at the Slam feels good,” said the Russian. “Obviously that’s not the way you want to finish a match. Up to a certain point, it’s a big fight.”
Khachanov and Korda met for the first time at the Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2021, and the fierce contest reached the fifth round before the Russian prevailed.
It looked to be a close battle as well, with Korda recovering from a break down to force a tie-break in the opening set and then making a strong start to the second.
But he called the trainer after five games to have his right wrist taped and didn’t win another game.
Korda said of the injury: “I had it a few weeks ago in Adelaide, but then it went away. During the match, it was not good. a lot after that.
“Some forehands, I can’t even hold the racket. Volleying is almost impossible for me. So it’s a bit difficult.”
However, it has been a breakthrough two weeks for Korda, and he added: “There are many positives, more positive than negative. Today is difficult but I hope nothing serious and I can take care so that I don’t have it in the future.
“I’m really proud of myself. Going forward, I’m going to keep doing the same thing, keep the same mentality. I think I can do some really big things in the future.”
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