MELBOURNE (AFP) - Stefanos Tsitsipas said he was “a different player” from the past after blasting into a fourth Australian Open semifinal and a showdown with Karen Khachanov.
The Greek third seed proved too powerful for unseeded Czech Jiri Lehecka on Rod Laver Arena, storming home 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 as he zeroes in on a maiden major title.
He will face the Russian 18th seed Khachanov for a place in his first Melbourne Park final, having crashed in the semis three times previously, including in the past two years.
Russia’s Khachanov booked his place when American Sebastian Korda retired hurt with a wrist injury while trailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-0.
Asked afterwards if he felt differently from previous years and believes this could finally be his year, the 24-year-old Tsitsipas said: “I’m feeling great with my tennis. I don’t think I felt so good in a long time.
“I will definitely say yes to it. I’ve said it, I’m a different player, playing different. My mentality is different.
“When I’m out on the court, I don’t really think of negatives, to be honest. I just go out there and play the game.”
Tsitsipas, who will become world number one should he win the title, has thrived on the energy from the crowd in Melbourne.
The city has a large Greek population, including some of his extended family, and he considers this his “home” tournament.
Tsitsipas’s best Slam so far is reaching the French Open final in 2021, falling to Novak Djokovic in five sets after holding a 2-0 lead.