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Russian star Karen Khachanov is in strife after airing his political views but on the court he is safely through to the Australian Open semi-finals.
The Azerbaijan Tennis Federation has complained to the International Tennis Federation after Khachanov showed his support for the Republic of Artsakh, which is trying to break away from Azerbaijan.
Khachanov, who is Russian but has Armenian heritage through his mother and father, wrote on the host broadcaster’s camera his second-round victory “Keep believing all the way until the end! Artsakh stay strong!” while signing the lens as part of the Australian Open tradition.
“I have said many times that I respect and appreciate my (Armenian) roots. I am a citizen of Russia, I represent Russia. But I have Armenian blood from my father’s and mother’s side.”
“I want to support them in any way, to give faith and strength.”
Azerbaijan’s tennis federation has asked the international governing body to take action against him but as yet there has been no official response.
Korda gives up over wrist injury
Seb Korda retired down 3-0 in the third set of his quarter-final against Khachanov as a wrist injury which has been dogging him the past couple of weeks finally took its toll.
Khachanov had won the first two sets 7-6, 6-3 so it was unlikely the American rising star was going to turn the match around.
He later revealed he had been battling the injury since the Adelaide International final loss to Novak Djokovic earlier this month and would look to recuperate in the immediate future before deciding when to get back on court.
In the women’s quarters earlier in the day, Elena Rybakina flew the flag for Kazakhstan with a 6-2 6-4 triumph over 17th-seeded Latvian rival Jelena Ostapenko.
“I am super happy that I managed with emotions and played very well today,” she said.
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