Insolite - Karatsev qualifies on a tweener in Rome

Aslan Karatsev qualified for the second round on Thursday with an insane tweener-passing win. The point will probably go down as one of the most mind-boggling match points of the year.

Aslan Karatsev is slowly making a comeback. After a very uneven 2023 season in which he alternated between the good and the not-so-good (semi-finalist in Madrid, finalist in Tokyo), the Russian finally won a match in 2024. After suffering a serious knee injury in his first match of the season (in Brisbane, against Kubler, 6-4, 6-7, ab.), the former world No. 14 made a convincing return to competition. After a very respectable first match in Madrid (lost 7-6, 7-6 to Marozsan), the current world No. 86 won the first round in Rome on Thursday. Up against Mackenzie McDonald (76th), the 30-year-old pulled off a fine comeback (4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 2h28).

However, the real highlight of the match was undoubtedly the match point (see video).