Dimitrov, Karatsev, Zverev off to Australian Open quarterfinals

Melbourne, Australia, Feb 14 (efe-epa).- Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on Sunday thrashed Austrian Dominic Thiem in straight sets to book an Australian Open last-eight clash against Russian Aslan Karatsev, who became the seventh man in the Open Era to reach the quarterfinals on his slam debut.

Later, German Alexander Zverev also made it to the tournament’s quarterfinals for the second time after he defeated Serbian Dusan Lajo 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

Dimitrov needed just over two hours to stun the US Open winner, Thiem, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 at the Rod Laver Arena.

“I think the key was that I was able to keep a consistency throughout the whole match,” said Dimitrov after the match.

Karatsev, meanwhile, fought back from two sets down to outlast 20th-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

“It was really tough in the beginning to play with him,” he said.

“He’s a really good player and he’s playing really fast. It took me two sets to find a way how to play,” added Karatsev, who needed three hours and 25 minutes to qualify to the quarterfinals. EFE-EPA

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