Published: 18 February 2021
Last updated: 4 March 2024
ISRAELI-RUSSIAN TENNIS SENSATION Aslan Karatsev could go on to make the top 30 or 40 after his breakthrough success at this year’s Australian Open, according to his former coach from his junior years in Israel.
“I think he will be in the top 30 or 40 and get results on most surfaces. It doesn’t mean he will make semis in every event but he will be up there. That’s realistic,” Oded Jacob, who coached Karatsev from the ages of 10-13 in Israel’s junior national team, told The Jewish Independent in an exclusive interview.
Regardless of Karatsev's straight sets defeat last night by world number one Novak Djokovic in his semi-final, Jacob says the future looks rosy for the virtually unknown qualifier who has set tongues wagging after reaching the last four in his first ever grand slam event at the age of 27.
“He’s mature enough [to move ahead], he has quite a bit of experience, and appreciates every inch that he has conquered.
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Jacob said Karatsev was a “passionate, driven, competitive” junior tennis player but there was no sign of the special talent that has emerged over the past two weeks, when he has defeated a string of highly-ranked players.
“There was nothing unique, except for his love of playing,” said Jacob, Israel’s former Davis Cup and Federation Cup coach, who coached Karatsev a few years before his father took him out of Israel to settle back in Russia.
“He had a good foundation, a strong work ethic. But to be honest, it’s usually hard to see anything special before puberty, when their bodies develop.”
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Jacob has a great track record in this area, having moved several years ago to Canada to become Head national coach in Junior development, from 10-15 years old, for Tennis Canada, and oversaw the rise of young stars Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Alliasime.
Karatsev left Israel and returned to Russia with his father at the age of 16 to continue his career. Jacob says his father was very pushy and controlling – “he wanted the best for his son” - and probably decided to take his son out of Israel before starting three years of compulsory military service at 18.
“Military service would have meant the end of his tennis career because Aslan did not have the notable success as a junior that would have gained him an exemption.”
Karatsev immigrated with his family from Russia when he was four, and spent the next dozen years living there, learning to speak fluent Hebrew. He still holds an Israeli passport. His mother and sister remained in Israel, and he returns there regularly to visit.
When Karatsev left Israel, he spent time in six or seven countries, according to Jacob. First Russia, then Spain, where he joined the Sergei Bruguera tennis academy, and then Halle in Germany and later Minsk in Belarus, where he is now based and is mentored by a friend. Karatsev does not have an official coach but has become more independent from his father’s influence recently, Jacob adds.
Jacob has watched him rise up through the secondary Challenger tour over the past two years. “He strikes the ball well, can do anything on the court and is as strong as a bull. He is very resilient and holds his nerve unbelievably in tough moments.
He strikes the ball well, can do anything on the court and is as strong as a bull. He is very resilient and holds his nerve unbelievably in tough moments.
“Aslan has had some good results, won a couple of matches on the main tour,” Jacob added, but he hasn’t seen anything to foreshadow the extraordinary results of the past fortnight. Jacob also dismissed the suggestion that his run of form has coincided with the Covid year, where he was playing without the pressure of crowds. “It helps with a match here or there, but to go to this level, you need the tools and weapons.”
Karatsev now represents Russia and Jacob thinks that being part of its winning ATP Cup team, where he played alongside Top 10 players such as Daniil Medvedev and Andrei Rublev, has boosted his confidence. “It gave him a feeling of belonging, and he has enjoyed being part of a winning team.”
One of Karatsev’s good friends from his days in Israel’s junior tennis scene is former professional player Amir Weintraub, says Eitan Drori, who has been involved with Israeli tennis for many years and now lives in Melbourne as an active member of the Jewish community.
“Weintraub tried to persuade Aslan to play Davis Cup for Israel but he had already committed to leaving for Russia,” Drori told The Jewish Independent.
Ahead of last night’s semi-final against Djokovic, Jacob conceded the match-up was “much more difficult than previous ones. On the other hand, he is an underdog and could swing freely.
“If Djokovic is 100%, then he may not have a chance. But if he’s not….” In the end, the defending champion prevailed comfortably, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Jacob made a point of congratulating Australian Open CEO Craig Tiley over his handling and management of the event. “Kudos to Craig for managing such an amazing challenge. He has set the tone for other sports events and maybe even the Olympics.”
READ MORE
Israel’s loss: Ex-local is 1st debutant for 25 years in Australian Open quarters (Times of Israel)
Aslan Karatsev spent much of his youth in the Jewish state; Israel Tennis Association reportedly sought to have him play for Israel but he’d already signed up for Russia
Slipped between the fingers (Ynet)
Photo: Aslan Karatsev after winning the Israeli Under-12 Championship (Photo: Facebook)
