Novak Djokovic eliminates Karen Khachanov in 4 sets: for the Serbian it is the 12th semifinal of his career at Roland Garros

The usual Novak Djokovic: just when it seems doomed, the Serbian finds the strength to get up and turn the game in his favor. This is, in short, the story of the first men’s quarter-final at Roland Garros. This time the sacrificial victim is a very good one Karen Khachanov who from Monday will return to the top 10 players in the world together with his compatriots Medvedev and Rublev. The Russian starts well by winning the first set, but is forced to surrender in front of the fury of Belgrade: 4-6 7-6(0) 6-2 6-4 the final score in 3 hours and 38 minutes. The 22-time Grand Slam champion reaches the 12th Parisian semifinal of his career, the 45th Grand Slam (just one from the record of 46 held by Roger Federer).

He matches

The tenth encounter between Djokovic and Khachanov (the previous ones 8-1 in favor of the Serbian, with the Russian having only won the final at Paris-Bercy in 2018) starts with a break from the Muscovite in the fifth game at the fifth attempt: Djoker is unusually foul with the backhand, while on the other side of the net Khachanov administers the exchange and moves very well both horizontally and vertically. Djokovic cancels two set points at 3-5, but has to give up in the next round: after an hour he’s trailing by one set (it’s the first set he lost in the tournament).

The haemorrhage of freebies doesn’t seem to end: the Serbian returns to the field with the cap (it’s no news that the sun – and the heat – annoy him), while his opponent doesn’t lower his pace, without however sinking the blow. We drag ourselves to the tiebreak where the 22-time Grand Slam champion finds his legendary shot, the backhand down the line. With three of these he places a 7-0 that he knows of a sentence. Also because on his return he also finds the first break of the match, after 2 hours and 18 minutes of play. The wind has changed and Khachanov begins to stumble with the serve. His shots lose speed. Djokovic like a predator smells blood and pounces, completing the third set solo with another break: 6-2 in 40′ and only one point lost on service. In the fourth set Djokovic runs away again in the opening, he doesn’t take advantage of two opportunities to go up 5-2 and, due to a short empty pass, he finds himself 4-4. But don’t worry: in the next 8 points Khachanov disappears from the field. Djoker can therefore sit in an armchair to study his next opponent who will come out of the second quarter-final, the one between the world No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Roland Garros 2023: where to watch it on TV and live streaming

Roland Garros 2023 will be broadcast exclusively on Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2, as well as obviously on Discovery+, our streaming platform with all the courts available starting with the tournament qualifiers starting on Monday 22 May at 10:00. The main draw instead will start on Sunday 28 May with the first matches of the main draw. Only with our digital live streaming platform will you be able to enjoy total coverage of the courts to follow all your favorite tennis players with a unique offer of its kind. Subscribers to DAZN, Sky (channels 210 and 211), and Tim Vision will also have access to the two linear channels of Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 and will be able to enjoy the second Slam of the season starting from 28 May 2023, the starting day of the draw tournament principal.

How much is the prize pool?

• Vittoria 2,300,000
• Finale 1,150,000
• Semifinal 630,000
• Quarter Finals 400,000
• Round of 16 240,000
• Third Round 142,000
• Second Round 97,000
• First Round 69,000
• QUALIFICATIONS
• Decisive round 34,000
• Second Round 22,000
• First Round 16,000

Everything you will find on Eurosport.it, our app and social networks

Follow Roland Garros 2023 on Eurosport.it! Live coverage of the matches, highlights of all the matches covered by the cameras of the international circuit, scoreboards, results, insights, focuses, photo galleries and anything else to be part of the second Grand Slam of the 2023 season.

You can also relive all the best moments on our social networks, the most spectacular plays of the tournament and the nicest “behind the scenes”. On Facebook and Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok, our exclusive contents.

Tennis 360 with Roberta Vinci, Jacopo Lo Monaco, Simone Eterno and Fabio Colangelo

Appointment with Tennis360, our digital show on tennis, which returns live every day on the Facebook page and on the Eurosport Youtube page before the evening session, around 19:00. You will be able to interact with our Jacopo Lo Monaco, Simone Eterno, Roberta Vinci and Fabio Colangelo to talk about all the main topics of the Parisian slam. We are waiting for you!