Asłan Karacew

[Kamileki]

USO21: pierwszy raz w 3. rundzie US Open.

[21] Asłan Karacew d. Jordan Thompson 3‑6 3‑6 7‑5 7‑6(9) 6‑1

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Bombardiero]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

The Nomadic Life With... Aslan Karatsev

Spoiler:

Learn about the Russian's life off court

Aslan Karatsev has been one of the breakthrough stars of 2021, having made the Australian Open semi-finals as a qualifier and claimed his first ATP Tour title in Dubai.

Karatsev, who is competing this week at the San Diego Open, is making a push to earn a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. ATPTour.com caught up with the 28-year-old to discuss his life on Tour, why he is not a fan of flying, his craziest travel story and more.

What are two essential non-tennis items you always pack for trips?
I’ll go with a laptop and big headphones to listen to music.

Do you enjoy travelling the world or consider it just something that needs to be done to be a pro tennis player? If you do enjoy it, what do you enjoy about travelling?
I don’t like flying, so it’s not like I enjoy flying. The takeoff and landing are not fun. Now it’s getting better and better with time. But from the beginning, when I was 20, 21, I had some issues with airplanes. I’d get a bit scared.

Did something happen on one of your early flights or you just never liked flying?
I don’t remember [when or where]. Something happened where we couldn’t land. There was a lot of circling around the airport. Also the turbulence. Some people are saying it doesn’t affect the airplane, but still when you’re jumping in the airplane [it bothers you].

How do you deal with that these days? Do you have a routine to calm yourself down a little bit?
I don’t think about it that much. I have to fly, so I just take a ticket and I fly. I try not to think about it and that’s it.

You May Also Like: Aslan Karatsev: Clothes Do Not Maketh This Man
What is your favourite city you have been to for a tournament and why?
Melbourne. It’s really nice. In general it’s a really nice city. I like the people, I like the city, the restaurants. Everything is nice.

Where is your favourite vacation destination?
I had one vacation. It was so boring, I don’t know if I would go again. Normally I just go to my hometown [in Russia] and rest there. I like more activities, so I don’t like when you lay down on the beach. Snowboarding, skiing, these sorts of activities I like. I don’t do it a lot, but when I can, when I have the offseason, I snowboard. I started when I was 18.

What is your craziest travel story?
I was playing a junior tournament in Yucatan in Mexico. I was in Rostov, so I was flying two hours to Moscow, then waiting 12 hours in the airport. And then 12 hours to New York, waiting eight hours in the airport. Six hours to Mexico City, waiting 17 hours in the airport and then flying three more hours to Yucatan. This was the longest trip I’ve ever had.

Russia's <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/asla ... iew'>Aslan Karatsev</a> has surged into the Top 30 of the FedEx ATP Rankings.
Photo Credit: Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour
How do you try to overcome jetlag and acclimate to the local time zone?
When I go to Asia, it’s harder for me than when I go to the United States. Normally the flight to Melbourne you arrive in the morning, so you don’t have to go to the room and sleep. I did it once and it was a mistake. Now I just put the luggage and I just go on a walk for six, seven hours. I just don’t stay in the room, otherwise you fall asleep.

I just walk around every city. I like to walk around, with music sometimes. The next year in Melbourne I just walked six, seven hours sitting, drinking coffee, and then I walked more.

Are you someone who gets to the airport with lots of time to spare or do you cut it fine?
One hour or 45 minutes before I arrive. I don’t want to sit there.

Have you ever missed a flight?
Yes. I messed it up with p.m and a.m. flying to Australia. Not this year, but many, many years ago.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/karatse ... -life-2021

[Nando]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

Karatsev Ousts Hurkacz In Battle Of Turin Contenders

Spoiler:

Russian pursuing his second title of the year
Aslan Karatsev and Hubert Hurkacz are both battling for a maiden berth into the Nitto ATP Finals, which will be held at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from 14-21 November. But on Thursday it was Karatsev who advanced to the San Diego Open quarter-finals with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory.

The Russian, who broke through to the Australian Open semi-finals as a qualifier at the beginning of the year, is 12th in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin. Hurkacz is in eighth, just ahead of ninth-placed Casper Ruud, who is the second seed in San Diego.

“I try not to think about it,” Karatsev said. “I just try to compete every tournament, every match, practise every day. In the end, we will see who is going to be in Turin.”

You May Also Like: Shapovalov Saves Six Set Points, Beats Fritz In San Diego
This was the first ATP Head2Head clash between Karatsev and Hurkacz. Karatsev struggled landing his first serve in the first set, giving his Polish opponent an opportunity to dig into rallies.

But as the match wore on, Karatsev’s firepower helped him turn the tide. The 28-year-old did not lose serve in the final two sets to triumph after two hours and 28 minutes against last week’s Metz champion, who also earned crowns in Delray Beach and Miami earlier in the year.

“It was a good match, a tough opponent… [Hurkacz] just came from a big win in France,” Karatsev said. “The first set I had an opportunity, had some easy mistakes in the important moments to close the set. I didn’t get those chances.

“I found a way in the second set to break him at 3-3 and was playing better and better… I continued to play [well] in the third set. I broke him immediately in the third set. I think I played aggressive, too. It’s really important against this kind of player to dictate the point, because he’s really good on defence.”


Karatsev will next play 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov, who eliminated lucky loser August Holmgren 6-1, 6-1.

Holmgren, who plays for the University of San Diego and won a round in qualifying, got into the main draw when Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew earlier Thursday because of an adductor strain. The crowd fully supported the local player, but was also fair to Dimitrov, making for a fun atmosphere.

"First and foremost I just want to thank everybody for being here. It's an amazing crowd," Dimitrov said in his on-court interview. "It was very fair, it was a lot of fun. It's so nice to see people back, so thank you all for coming tonight, I really appreciate it."

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/karatse ... 1-thursday

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

Karatsev & Rublev Make Strong Start In Indian Wells

Spoiler:

Second seeds Ram/Salisbury battle through Match Tie-break

Aslan Karatsev and Andrey Rublev are playing doubles together for just the third time. But on Friday, the powerful Russians showed why they are a formidable duo.

The unseeded pair defeated Australian Alex de Minaur and American Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round of the BNP Paribas Open. Karatsev and Rublev, this year's Doha champions, are now 5-1 as a duo, and they have not lost a set in any of their victories.

The Russians earned four service breaks and won 44 per cent of their return points against De Minaur and Opelka. They will next play fourth seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah or Italian Simone Bolelli and Argentine Maximo Gonzalez.

In other action, second seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury clawed past Briton Cameron Norrie and Australian Luke Saville 4-6, 6-3, 10-8. This year's US Open champions had never previously won a match together in Indian Wells.

Singles star Denis Shapovalov and his partner, Indian Rohan Bopanna, also advanced with a 6-1, 2-6, 10-4 victory against reigning Rolex Paris Masters champions Felix Auger-Aliassime and Hubert Hurkacz.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/karatse ... ay-doubles

[Damian]

[Damian]

IW21 R3:

21 Lorenzo Sonego 2125
22 Asłan Karacew 2109
23 Reilly Opelka 2071

[Damian]

[Damian]

Karatsev Sends Shapovalov Packing In Indian Wells

Spoiler:

Russian awaits eighth seed Hurkacz or Tiafoe

Aslan Karatsev’s chances of closing on a Nitto ATP Finals berth received a boost at the BNP Paribas Open on Monday, after the Russian defeated ninth seed Denis Shapovalov in straight sets.

The 28-year-old, 12th in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin, claimed the pair’s first ATP Head2Head meeting 7-5, 6-2 to win two matches in consecutive tournaments for the first time since Madrid and Rome in May. While Shapovalov struck four more winners than his opponent’s 12, his 26 unforced errors – including 15 off the forehand – were 12 more than the Russian committed.

Karatsev had not tasted the level of success in recent months as he had at the start of the season, on runs which included a maiden ATP 500 trophy in Dubai and a first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open. Before San Diego leading in, he had not beaten a Top 20 opponent since countryman Daniil Medvedev in Rome, but has now beaten two in as many weeks.


You May Also Like: Ruud Continues Turin Pursuit In Indian Wells
Defeat of Hubert Hurkacz sent him into the quarter-finals in San Diego before his victory over Shapovalov sent him through to the fourth round at Indian Wells on debut. He awaits the winner of eighth seed Hurkacz or American Frances Tiafoe.

“The first thing you want to try to do is keep focusing because the weather conditions were tough for both of us,” Karatsev said. “The first set I tried to find my serve, especially on the second serve, it didn’t work. The main goal was to keep focused… It was super windy today.

“[It’s my] first time here in Indian Wells. It’s an amazing place. It’s nice to be here, to stay here, the atmosphere is really cool. The stadium is almost full, so it’s really nice to play.”

Karatsev had a pair of break points early at 2-2, but did not get another look-in on his opponent’s serve until the crucial 11th game when he converted the only break of the first set for 6-5 when Shapovalov missed a backhand volley.

The Russian closed out the set in just under an hour and only had to wait 12 minutes before he landed the first break of the second set at 1-1. The errors only mounted for the Canadian as he surrendered the double break and Karatsev closed it out a game later at the 97-minute mark.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/karatse ... 021-monday

[Damian]

IW21 R4:

19 Roberto Bautista Agut 2270
20 Asłan Karacew 2154
21 Daniel Evans 2144

[Kamileki]

IW21: pierwszy raz w III rundzie Indian Wells.

[19] Asłan Karacew d. [Q] Salvatore Caruso 60 62

[Kamileki]