Nur-Sultan: Is Aslan Karatsev's Renaissance Coming?
Aslan Karatsev starts as a tournament favorite in the ATP Tour 250 event in nur-Sultan. that would have been unthinkable before the start of the season. Meanwhile, the demands have increased.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Sep 19, 2021, 11:27 pm
Aslan Karatsev has cooled noticeably after his brilliant start to the season. The semifinals at the Australian Open, the tournament victory in Dubai, the success against Novak Djokovic at the first of the two clay court events in Belgrade - it all seems like an eternity ago. Most recently at the US Open, Karatsev had shown his better side again, especially in the duel with Jordan Thompson in round two. The fact that he then lost to the youngster Jenson Brooksby must be seen as a step backwards.
Karatsev would have had very good prerequisites to play a place in the ATP Finals in Turin. The Russian is still not completely out of the race, but he is 605 points short of Hubert Hurkacz, who is currently the last to qualify. It's interesting that both Karatsev and Hurkacz are tournament favorites this week. The Pole in Metz, Aslan Karatsev at the significantly less occupied ATP Tour 250 tournament in Nur-Sultan.
Karatsev wins Olympic silver
To start as number one in an event on the ATP tour, that would have been signed by the 28-year-old Karatsev before the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, the demands have increased, the last highlight is the Olympic silver medal in mixed doubles with Elena Vesnina. The first task will not be easy: Karatsev either has to face Benjamin Bonzi, who won the next ATP Challenger tournament in Rennes on Sunday. Or against Emil Ruusuvuori, the strong Finn.
The rest of the tableau, on the other hand, isn't all that scary. Alexander Bublik is in second position, followed by the two Serbs Dusan Lajovic and Filip Krajinovic. The latter would be Aslan Karatsev's regular semi-final opponent. If he should find his mojo again from the beginning of the year.