Stefanos Tsitsipas reaches Australian Open final after beating Karen Khachanov in four sets

Stefanos Tsitsipas secured a place in the Australian Open final after he defeated Karen Khachanov in four sets 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 in the final four in Melbourne. 

The 24-year-old – ranked No. 4 in the world – defeated his Russian opponent in just under three and a half hours.

He will now play either Novak Djokovic or the American Tommy Paul in Sunday’s final.

Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the Australian Open final after he defeated Karen Khachanov

It was somewhat redemption for Tsitsipas after the Greek player had lost all four of his previous semi-finals at the Australian Open.

He matches his career best Grand Slam achievement of reaching the final at the French Open in 2021 before he lost to Djokovic on that occasion, having been two sets up.

It was an enthralling clash at the Rod Laver Arena with Tsitsipas taking a ding-dong first set, with both players breaking the other.

Tsitsipas had to work hard for his victory in a game lasting just under three and a half hours

Khachanov refused to give in and saved two match points to win the third set on a tie break

Tsitsipas eventually won the tie break 7-2, before going on to win the second set 6-4.

The final set seemed all but sewn up with Tsitsipas 5-3 up and two points away from victory before Khachanov launched a stirring comeback as he won three games in a row to put himself into a 6-5 lead.

Tsitsipas held his serve, before Khachanov went onto win the tie break 8-6 after saving two match points.

Despite the setback, Tsitsipas wasn’t deterred and went onto romp home in the final set 6-3. 

He has now won all 10 of his games in 2023 as he continues to go from strength-to-strength.