Novak Djokovic is through to his sixth semi-final of the season after another convincing performance in Astana. Novak toppled Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 28 minutes to advance into the last four, beating the Russian for the seventh time in eight encounters. Djokovic lost 12 points in ten service games and dropped serve once from two chances offered to Khachanov. Novak turned 44% of the return points into three breaks, enough to carry him over the top. Djokovic fired 15 winners and nine unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely and taking advantage of the opponent’s 27 unforced mistakes. Novak clinched the opening game at love with a forehand down the line winner and earned a break chance in game two after Karen’s backhand error.
Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev will fight for the final in Astana.
The Russian saved the first before spraying a backhand mistake on the second to fall 2-0 down. Novak confirmed the advantage with a hold at love in game three before Karen grabbed the next one with a service winner to get his name to the scoreboard. Djokovic hit a double fault in the fifth game and experienced two break points. He played a terrible volley on the second to lose serve and bring Khachanov back to the positive side. Karen wrapped up the sixth game after deuce to level the score at 3-3. Novak opened a 4-3 gap with a hold at love after a service winner, and Karen forced his mistake in the next one for 4-4.
Djokovic clinched the ninth game at love with an ace and broke Khachanov with a backhand crosscourt winner a few minutes later to take the opener 6-4 in 41 minutes. The Serb held at the start of the second set after deuce and created a break point in the next one after the Russian’s loose forehand. Novak squandered it and allowed Karen to level the score at 1-1. Djokovic fired a forehand down the line winner in game four to build the advantage and held at 15 in the next one for 4-1. The Serb moved 5-2 up with a hold at 15 in game seven, and the Russian served to stay in the match in the next one. Karen grabbed the eighth game to extend the encounter before Novak sealed the deal with an ace in the next one. Djokovic will face Daniil Medvedev in a battle for the final on Saturday.