Russian-Israeli tennis player Karatsev beats UK’s Murray to win Sydney tournament

World number 20 powers past Scottish player in a near-flawless performance; Murray, who has undergone career-saving hip surgery, was making 1st appearance in a final since 2019Aslan Karatsev returns a shot during the men’s singles final match of the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, on October 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

SYDNEY — Aslan Karatsev, the 20th ranked tennis player in the world, produced a masterclass Saturday to power past Andy Murray in the Sydney Classic final, signaling his intent of making another deep run at the Australian Open.

The No.1 seed in the tournament won 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and 31 minutes, hitting 29 winners in a near-flawless performance that left the three-time Grand Slam champion out of answers.

“Thanks to my team we are doing an amazing job,” Karatsev said during the awards presentation.

Karatsev created history at last year’s Australian Open after becoming the first Grand Slam debutant to reach a semi-final since the Open era began in 1968.

Karatsev plays for the Russian national side but grew up and trained in Israel and speaks fluent Hebrew.
After his emphatic victory, the 28-year-old will be confident entering Melbourne Park having stymied Murray’s bid to win a title for the first time since 2019.