<p>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.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>&lsquo;Didn&rsquo;t play well&rsquo;</h2>
<p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t play as well from the baseline as I did in the first two matches, but still it was enough,&rdquo; said <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/i-was-quite-emotional-novak-djokovic-23248553" target="_blank" rel="none noopener"><strong>Djokovic</strong></a> after the match.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I managed to produce some good tennis when it was the most needed in both sets.&rdquo;</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/soul-searched-prithvi-ii-all-set-to-launch-23249139">Soul-searched Prithvi-II all set to launch</a></strong></p>
<h2>Kyrgios withdraws</h2>
<p>Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/im-just-devastated-nick-kyrgios-after-his-us-open-2022-defeat-to-karen-khachanov-23244806" target="_blank" rel="none noopener"><strong>Nick Kyrgios</strong></a> 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&rsquo;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 &ldquo;been playing amazing tennis all year&rdquo; but it had been physically taxing.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s heartbreaking. When the body lets you down, it&rsquo;s not a good feeling.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/india-look-to-continue-domination-v-pak-23249142">India look to continue domination v Pak</a></strong></p>
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“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

Novak Djokovic eases past Khachanov to enter Astana semi-finals

‘Didn’t play well’

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