Melbourne, Jan 27 (UNI) Stefanos Tsitsipas has his sights on a maiden Grand Slam title after surviving a late hiccup to keep Karen Khachanov at bay in the Australian Open semifinals on Friday.
Following his sole showing in a major final almost two years ago, the Greek earned another shot at glory following a 7-6(2) 6-4 6-7(6) 6-3 ledger against the former world No.8.
Having flicked a switch to survive Jannik Sinner in the fourth round, the Greek has not dropped a set since, ending a three-match losing streak in the last four at Melbourne Park.
Consolidation proved elusive throughout a topsy-turvy opening set as both men struggled to build momentum.
Serving at 5-3, Tsitsipas had more to worry about than his opponent when he was handed a code violation warning for time wasting. It came back to bite him at a crucial moment two games later when he was pinged a second time and docked his first serve.
Neither player had conceded a tiebreak in this campaign, but something had to give. It was an errant Khachanov who blinked first.
Tsitsipas had never taken the opening set in his previous three Australian Open semifinal defeats, but after 56 minutes bucked that trend.
His opponent had not come from a set down all tournament, let alone two, and Khachanov was made to pay when he did not put away an overhead at 4-all in the second set.
The third seed turned the point around and ended a 22-shot rally on a forehand winner, which set off a streak of six straight points for a two-set lead.
When Tsitsipas broke for 2-1 in the third set, he lifted his fist skyward and stared down his box. He had never lost a match at Melbourne Park from two sets up, but it mattered little to Khachanov.
The 18th seed had one last chance to break, and pounced as his opponent attempted to close it out.
The seeds of doubt were planted, and when Tsitsipas brought up two match points in the tiebreak, Khachanov saved both on pinpoint forehand winners on his way to a fourth set.
It was his last hurrah. Forty minutes later, the Greek brought up two more match points and advanced as the clock passed three hours and 21 minutes.
At Roland Garros in 2021, Tsitsipas was overwhelmed when a steely Djokovic surged past him from two sets down.
In Sunday's final – his second at this level – the Greek has a shot at redemption when he meets either the nine-time champion or plucky American Tommy Paul.
Victory would also secure him the world No.1 ranking.
"I like that number … It's a Grand Slam final, I'm fighting for the No.1 spot, it's a childhood dream to be capturing that No.1 spot one day," he said.
"I'm close. I'm happy that this opportunity comes here in Australia and not somewhere else, because this is a place of significance." UNI BDN SY SSP