Novak Djokovic secured a place in the semifinals of the French Open 2023 after defeating Karen Khachanov, marking his 45th Grand Slam semifinal and 12th at Roland Garros.
Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals of the French Open 2023 by overcoming Karen Khachanov in a hard-fought battle. Djokovic’s victory keeps his quest for a record-breaking 23rd men’s Grand Slam singles title alive at Roland Garros.
Facing a potential setback, Djokovic faced the risk of falling two sets behind against the resilient Russian. However, he rallied and emerged triumphant with a final score of 4-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2, 6-4.
Should Djokovic emerge victorious, he would become the first male player to win each of the four major tournaments at least three times.
Djokovic’s triumph sets up a highly anticipated potential semifinal clash with world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, who will be competing against Stefanos Tsitsipas in Tuesday’s night session.
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Leading up to the match against Khachanov, Djokovic had not dropped a single set throughout the tournament on the clay courts of Paris. However, Khachanov provided a significant challenge that tested Djokovic’s mettle, preparing him for the potential matchup against Alcaraz or Tsitsipas in the semifinals.
Despite facing seven break points, of which he saved six, Djokovic tightened his serve and demonstrated remarkable resilience for the majority of the match.
The encounter lasted three hours and 43 minutes, but once Djokovic claimed a comprehensive victory in the second-set tie-break, the outcome seemed increasingly certain.
Reflecting on the match, Djokovic remarked during his on-court interview, “I played a perfect tie-break, and from that moment onwards, I elevated my game to a higher level compared to the beginning. It was a tough fight, as one would expect in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. Victories are not handed to you, so I’m pleased to have overcome it today.”
Djokovic outlasted the valiant efforts of Khachanov, who managed to end Djokovic’s streak of winning 29 consecutive sets in Grand Slam matches in just under an hour on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The world number 11 matched Djokovic in terms of returning shots, showcasing a strength not usually associated with Khachanov’s game. He eventually secured a break of serve in a hard-fought fifth game of the opening set, after Djokovic had saved four previous break points.
Khachanov managed to serve out the set, despite Djokovic’s determined defense that saved three set points—two on Djokovic’s serve and one on Khachanov’s.
The second set remained dominated by strong serving performances, with neither player earning a break point. Djokovic clinically claimed the set by winning a one-sided tie-break without dropping a single point.
A fortunate net-cord granted Djokovic a break of serve in a lengthy opening game of the third set, and from that moment, he maintained control as Khachanov’s challenge visibly diminished.
Khachanov had never defeated a top-five player in a Grand Slam or on clay, holding
