Aslan Karatsev - A surprise gift from the tennis gods
What do Karatsev allow? Aslan's semi-final victory against industry leader Novak Djokovic at the ATP Tour 250 tournament in Belgrade was the highlight of Saturday's sport.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Apr 25, 2021, 11:41 am
Let's not kid ourselves: for the average sports junkie, Saturday afternoons are no fun. Yesterday's example. There are only four matches in the German Bundesliga, which is tough bread to chew on. Freiburg against Hoffenheim, Union against Werder, only aficionados are happy. On the main screen before that, of course, Tsitsipas is playing against Sinner, but Jannik forgot his first serve in the dressing room, there is very little tension and even less joy. Nothing against Stefanos of course, we like the boy.
That Rafa then pulls off the poor PCB - for free. The second safest bet in sport. Just behind a Bayern win in Mainz. But there is little to diversify, no MotoGP, no Formula 1, there is no swimming anywhere, and the biathletes have stopped firing. It looks like a tough evening program, because Nole will destroy poor Karatsev just like Rafa, see above.
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Djokovic highly motivated at home
But no matter, the second screen belongs to Belgrade, Chelsea's appearance at West Ham is not that thrilling either. But what are we being offered after all the grown men who roll over the lawns for a breath of nothing? A spectacle, a festival that deserves the same setting as a year ago.
If you can remember: There was something about Adria Tour, and there was above all the fact that Nole did not reach the final of his own event. Only an exhibition match, but the best tennis player in the world was not happy. So Karatsev has to pay for what Krajinovic did at the time.
Or not? Djokovic is definitely hot, no comparison to the listless, unfocused appearance against the Evans Danny a few days ago in Monte Carlo. And Aslan? The calm itself. If you look at it more leisurely, you are quickly 0: 3 behind, but still wins the first set, does not lose the second undeservedly, but also a little unhappy. The level is now at Grand Slam final level, and Nole also fights as if it were major number 19 for him.
Karatsev in Munich next week
Aslan, on the other hand, distributes the balls and tugs the forehand with his wrist especially when things get tough. So actually all the time. Karatsev knocks 23 of 28 breakballs away. If you thought at the Australian Open that the Karatsev chapter had finished off after the semi-finals in Melbourne (the author dutifully raises his hand here) - think again.
The tournament victory in Dubai was really nice, the performance in Belgrade on Friday was downright magical. Aslan Karatsev is reminiscent of a groundskeeper who sits in the shade in front of the clubhouse in worn clothes and reluctantly accepts the request to hit a few balls. To then withdraw whoever.
The only worry we now have: What if Aslan runs out of strength? Not today in the final against Berrettini, but afterwards. Munich calling, we are waiting!