Karatsev is the third wildcard to win an ATP 500

That in the last Australian Open reached the semifinals, in his first participation in the final draw of a Grand Slam, it was not the result of chance. This was confirmed last Saturday Aslan karatsev by winning the first title of his sports career in the ATP 500 from Dubai, which not only establishes him in the privileged top-50 of the ranking (on Monday it rises to 27th), but also accredits him as one of the best tennis players of this season. “It was a long journey since I was 18, when I stopped playing juniors and turned pro. It is almost 10 years, or even more. It means a lot”, said the Moscow one about his first trophy.

The numbers don't lie: Karatsev is the second player with the most wins in 2021, only surpassed by Andrey Rublev (18). If we count the victories in the qualifying phase played at Melbourne Park, Aslan has a tremendous balance of 15 wins and 2 losses, Novak Djokovic (Australian semi-finals) and Dominic Thiem (Doha round of 16) being the only ones capable of defeating him this year.

Its performance also allows it to match a record that since 2009 was only in the possession of David Nalbandián and Feliciano López, who, like Karatsev, conquered an ATP 500 category tournament under the condition of wildcards (guests). In 2010, the former Argentine tennis player defeated Marcos Baghdatis in the final in Washington, while the Toledo won the title on Queen's grass in 2019 against Gilles Simon. Now comes the Miami Masters 1,000 (March 24 to April 4), where good old Karatsev will have to be taken into account …