Last Update: January 24, 2023, 19:09 IST
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Twitter)
The 24-year-old Greek star proved too potent as he cruised to a 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 win over Czech Lehka at the Rod Laver Arena, setting up a last-four clash. against Karen Khachanov
Stefanos Tsitsipas stormed into a fourth Australian Open semi-final on Tuesday as he won a maiden Grand Slam title in a showdown with Karen Khachanov.
The Greek third seed proved too powerful for unseeded Czech Jiri Lehka on Rod Laver Arena, storming home 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
He will take on Russian 18th seed Khachanov, who has crashed out in the semi-finals thrice including the last two years, for a place in his maiden Melbourne Park final.
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Russia’s Khachanov booked his spot when American Sebastian Korda retired hurt with a wrist injury and trailed 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-0.
Tsitsipas said, “This time it felt different from any other match and in the end the most important thing is that I got the solution.”
If Novak Djokovic does the same, he can achieve this feat.
“It was a very tough three-set, one of the toughest I’ve ever seen in the competition,” said the 24-year-old Tsitsipas.
“Jiri had a great tournament, he’s started playing very well recently. He’s a great player.
“I had to deal with her groundstrokes, which were coming very heavy and deep into the net, so it was a task where I really had to put my heart into it and give it my best,” she said.
The 71st-ranked Leheka had warned Tsitsipas before the match that he wanted revenge after losing in the semi-finals in Rotterdam last year.
But the 21-year-old, who beat 11th seed Cameron Norrie and sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last eight, was immediately under the gun.
Tsitsipas served five break points in his opening service game and crossed the line when the Czech volleyed a backhand wide.
She raced to a 3-0 lead and gave Leheka few chances to counterattack with her strong first serve, sealing the first set with an ace in 36 minutes.
Tsitsipas saved five break points in the crucial third game of the second set as Leheka came alive and started applying the pressure.
Both players dug in and it went to a tiebreak serve, where the Greek held his composure to take an early advantage which he never relinquished.
In a close third set, Tsitsipas’ second double fault of the night gave Leheka three break points in game seven.
But he saved them all to a halt, fueling the celebration.
With the bit between her teeth, the Greek star dialed up the pressure as Leheka worked to stay in the contest and a crosscourt backhand handed her a match point which she converted.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)