Giant-killer Karatsev in 25-year first at Australian Open

Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 14, 2021 Russia’s Aslan Karatsev celebrates winning his fourth round match against Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime REUTERS/Kelly Defina

Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev became the first player to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal on debut in 25 years Sunday, stunning 20th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Australian Open.

The power-hitting 27-year-old, a virtual unknown before the tournament started, battled back from two sets down to upset the Canadian 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Margaret Court Arena.

It continued his giant-killing run after blitzing eighth seed Diego Schwartzmann in round three, setting up a quarterfinal clash with either world number three Dominic Thiem or Grigor Dimitrov.

From qualifying to the quarterfinal 🙌🇷🇺

Who would @AsKaratsev prefer to play out of Thiem or Dimitrov in the next round? 🤷‍♂️#AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/rwo2IZL0PG

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 14, 2021

“It was really tough in the beginning to play against him. He played really fast and it took me two sets to find a way how to play,” he said.

“In the end I got into the rhythm in the third and fifth. I’m feeling good, but tired. I put everything into this match.”

Karatsev, ranked 114, is the first Grand Slam debutant to reach the quarterfinals at a major since Romanian Alex Radulescu at Wimbledon in 1996 and only the seventh in the Open era.

He is the first qualifier to achieve the feat since Australia’s Bernard Tomic at Wimbledon in 2011 and only the third ever at the Australian Open after Bob Giltinan in 1977 and Goran Ivanisevic in 1989.

The bearded Karatsev has been on the verge of playing a Grand Slam for years, but on nine previous attempts the injury-dogged Russian fell in qualifying.

He was part of the victorious Russian ATP Cup team this month along with Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who play their fourth-round matches on Monday.