Novak Djokovic eases past Khachanov to enter Astana semi-finals

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic dominated Russian Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-3, as he took 88 minutes on Friday to reach the Astana ATP tournament semi-finals.

‘Didn't play well'

"I didn't play as well from the baseline as I did in the first two matches, but still it was enough," said Djokovic after the match.

"I managed to produce some good tennis when it was the most needed in both sets."

Facing the US Open semi-finalist, the Serb dropped serve for the first time this week but still has not lost a set since returning to the ATP Tour after a three-month break following his Wimbledon title.

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Kyrgios withdraws

Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the Japan Open just minutes before his quarter-final on Friday with a sore left knee. The mercurial Australian star had been scheduled to play third-seeded American Taylor Fritz, who will now play Canada's Denis Shapovalov, seeded seventh, in the Last 4 on Saturday. At a hastily announced press conference when the match was due to begin, Kyrgios said he had "been playing amazing tennis all year" but it had been physically taxing.

"It's heartbreaking. When the body lets you down, it's not a good feeling."

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