Khachanov through to Australian Open semifinal after Korda forfeits with wrist injury

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Karen Khachanov on Tuesday qualified for the 2023 Australian Open semifinals in men's singles after a wrist injury forced his opponent Sebastian Korda to retire from the match.

World no. 18 Khachanov was leading 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 3-0, but Korda from the US retired from their quarterfinal match at Rod Laver Arena.

Korda, 22, eliminated two-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev and 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in the previous rounds.

In his first Australian Open semifinal, Khachanov, 26, will take on either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Jiri Lehecka.

Third-seed Tsitsipas from Greece will face Czech player Lehecka for a semifinal ticket later Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in the women's singles quarterfinals, Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan beat her Latvian opponent Jelena Ostapenko in the sets of 6-2, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, is now waiting for her opponent in the semifinal.

The winner of the Jessica Pegula vs. Victoria Azarenka match will meet Rybakina in the next stage.