Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev revealed Tuesday that his humble target had merely been to break the top 100, after he made history by reaching the Australian Open semi-finals on debut. The 27-year-old`s dream run continued with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 win against injury-hit Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov to set up a last-four clash with top seed Novak Djokovic or sixth seed Alexander Zverev. 

Karatsev became the first man in the Open era to reach a semi-final on his Grand Slam debut, and just the second qualifier to do so at the Australian Open after Bob Giltinan in 1977. He was also the lowest-ranked man, at 114, to make the semis at a Slam since Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon in 2001 when ranked 125. His ranking is now projected to soar into the top 50 after his breakthrough performance in Melbourne. "Of course not," Karatsev said when asked if he imagined being two wins away from a Slam title.