US Open: Nick Kyrgios defeats Daniil Medvedev to book place in quarter-finals
Nick Kyrgios has secured one of the biggest wins of his career, knocking world number one Daniil Medvedev who reserved high praise for his Australian rival.
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Nick Kyrgios is playing at the same level as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, world No.1 Daniil Medvedev stated after being bundled out of the US Open by the Australian.
Kyrgios’ giant-killing streak of 2022 continued as he beat the defending US Open champion to advance to the quarter-final in New York, revealing afterwards his exceptional turnaround in form was sparked after getting sick of “letting people down’.
Kyrgios claimed a 7-6 (13-11) 3-6 6-3 6-2 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium, leaving Medvedev to pay his rival the highest compliment.
“It was a high-level match, [I] played Novak, Rafa, they all play amazing, Nick today played kind of their level, in my opinion,” Medvedev said.
“He has a little bit different game because he’s not like a grinder in a way. At the same time he can rally.
“He’s tough to play. He has an amazing serve.
“If he plays like this till end of the tournament, he has all the chances to win it. But he’s going to get tough opponents, so it’s not sure.”
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Kyrgios will face another Russian, Karen Khachanov, in the quarters on Wednesday, but he anticipates much social media ribbing prior to that after a “bone-headed” play where he ran to Medvedev’s side of the court to hit a ball.
“I still can’t believe the bone-headed play I made over here, I thought that was legal to be honest, that’s going to be everywhere on SportsCenter so I’m going to look like an idiot,” Kyrgios said.
The bizarre incident occurred in the second game of the third set when Kyrgios made a foul shot by running well past the line of the net into Medvedev’s side to hit what would have been a winner to set up break-point.
Medvedev held on the claim the game, and Kyrgios later would tell his box he believed it was legal to play that shot.
GOAT things
— reko (@rekoMCFC) September 5, 2022
Nick Kyrgios isn't everyone’s cup of tea but man this guy is playing entertaining tennis with purpose now. Looking forward to his next game. #USOpen2022
— junior (@junior4run) September 5, 2022
After the match, the Wimbledon finalist opened up on his career resurrection.
“I felt like when I was really struggling mentally, I was very selfish,” Kyrgios said.
“I felt like, I feel bad, I don’t want to play. Then I looked at the people closest to me and how much I was letting them down, and I didn’t want to do that any more.
“Then, I don’t know, I just tried to just look at my career. I was like, I feel like I’ve got so much left to give to the sport. That’s it. I just trained hard. I just put my head down, Look, let’s get in shape, better shape, first of all. Let’s see, like, how it goes
“Then I don’t know. Obviously winning helps. I’ve been winning a lot this year. The motivation has been there. It’s easy to train. It’s easier to wake up obviously when things are going great.
“I was just really sick of letting people down. I don’t know, just feeling like that. I feel like I’m making people proud now. I feel like there’s not as much negative things being said about me. I just wanted to turn the narrative around almost. That’s basically it. I just was feeling so depressed all the time, so feeling sorry for myself. I just wanted to change that.”
It was a typical Kyrgios match, with racquet smashing, arguments with the umpire, chastising his box and outrageous shot-making.
Having made the Wimbledon final earlier this year, Kyrgios is career-best form, and credited his turnaround to early nights at home with girlfriend Costeen Hatzi.
“I’m trying to make every practice session count, getting to sleep, I’d probably be out every night before, now I’ve got a great girlfriend, she helps me,” Kyrgios said.
“And my team, I’ve got my physio with me, it’s all my team.
“I just don’t want to let them down, we’ve been on the road for four months now and we’ve all got families we want to see and I want to make it count.
“This is the last trip before I head back to Australia.
“I want to go all the way, hopefully it’s possible.”
Kyrgios is also playing doubles with Aussie teammate Thanasi Kokkinakis and the pair are into the round of 16 tomorrow against Englishman Lloyd Glasspool and Finland’s Harri Heliovaara.
Kyrgios could have folded after losing the second set to Medvedev, but produced incredible serves and brilliants shots from all over the court, while using his feet to come to the net at crucial times, and producing sublime drop shots, to outwit his rival.
Kyrgios was unhappy that chair umpire Eva Asderaki was starting the service timer when the ball was dead – as it sets out under the rules – because he wanted leeway to be able to wipe sweat off himself in humid conditions at Flushing Meadows.
He argued with Asderaki about this in the first and second sets, but then seemed to settle into a groove after his foul shot to take momentum away from Medvedev.
Kyrgios won a thrilling first set 13-11 in the tie-break, saving two set points and nailing it on his fourth.
He had the first break point of the set going 4-2 up, in the process throwing his arms up to get the crowd’s support.
But Medvedev broke back at the next opportunity.
The pair traded outstanding serves and rallies in the tie-breaker before Kyrgios won it.
In an error-riddled second set full of double faults, Kyrgios trailed 4-1 before threatening a revival.
But Medvedev had the composure to eventually seal the set 6-3.
It was all Kyrgios thereafter, playing his best tennis to ensure the US Open will have a new winner this year.
*KYRGIOS V MEDVEDEV 7-6 3-6 6-3 4 -1
Even more drama now.
Having dominated on his own serve for two sets, Kyrgios now finds himself under pressure and down a break point.
And after some choice language, the Australian is handed a code violation.
Medvedev attempts to use the moment to get the crowd on his side, calling for him to cheer and it appears Kyrgios didn’t love that.
He steps up to the line and goes bang, bang and BANG – smashing three huge serves to get out of trouble.
Every winner is followed with a huge scream! This is Kyrgios at his best.
*KYRGIOS V MEDVEDEV 7-6 3-6 6-3 2-1
Huge moment in New York with Nick Kyrgios striking first in this massive fourth set.
He is playing high up in the court and Medvedev hasn’t been able to find an answer. His passing shots are missing and anything short is being eaten up by Kyrgios.
And after giving up a break, the defending champion is now is massive trouble.
Kyrgios has been untouchable on serve for an hour. He is four holds away from getting one of the biggest wins of his career.
KYRGIOS V MEDVEDEV 7-6 3-6 6-3
Don’t worry about the brain fade because Kyrgios sure isn’t.
He instantly put it behind him and has raced through the third set to get back on top.
Following the error, Kyrgios was seemingly playing much freer and the winners started flowing.
He is now just one set away from a place in the final eight.
KYRGIOS V MEDVEDEV 7-6 3-6
Nick Kyrgios and Daniil Medvedev are back on level terms after the Russian raced through the second set at the US Open.
It was a case of crashing back down to earth for Kyrgios, who was on top of the world after taking an epic opening set in a monster tie-break.
However, this is why Medvedev is one of the toughest players on the tour.
He doesn’t drop his level no matter how long a match goes for. He can play the same style for hours on end.
Kyrgios was broken twice in the set, something he can’t let happen if he wants to win the match. His serve has to be the weapon that separates the duo.
KYRGIOS BOOED BY NEW YORK CROWD
Nick Kyrgios has been booed by the US Open crowd after angrily smashing a ball into a barrier.
The Australian was clearly frustrated after giving up his serve at the beginning of the second set, putting an immediate handbrake on all the momentum which was running his way.
Following a Medvedev fault, Kyrgios clubbed a ball, which bounced off the stand barrier.
The crowd didn’t like the reaction, booing a bemused Kyrgios.
Medvedev also didn’t sound pleased, questioning umpire Eva Asderaki at the change of ends.
“I understand you’re right. I can hit the ball every point in the stands. If he can, I can,” he said.
Medvedev leads 3-0 in the second set.
Set 1: KYRGIOS 7 – MEDVEDEV 6
The full Nick Kyrgios experience was on display in a thrilling opening set against Daniil Medvedev.
Kyrgios claimed the epic in a tie-breaker, winning it 13-11 to get his nose in front against the world number one.
The set had everything, with Kyrgios blowing up at the chair umpire late before turning the attention to his own player box in the tie-break.
After letting a set point on his own serve slip, Kyrgios was heard screaming at his box, “Tell me where to f****** serve” multiple times.
However, there was also some exceptional tennis on display, with the Aussie blasting winners from the ground and dominating on his serve.
Kyrgios saved a set point by this much: pic.twitter.com/oy5vt9zRJP
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2022
Set 1: KYRGIOS 4 – MEDVEDEV 3*
The fireworks have started on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Nick Kyrgios drew first blood, pouncing on the opening break of the match to race to a 4-2 lead.
However, Medvedev hit back instantly, taking the break back with some monster hitting from the back of the court.
However, it was the antics of Medvedev that really stood out during that exchange.
On multiple points, Medvedev attempted to play up to the crowd and get them on his side – asking them to cheer louder.
It’s almost like he is trying to strike first in terms of winning over the fans.
Let the games begin.
Set 1: KYRGIOS 1 – MEDVEDEV 1
Such is the power of the Nick Kyrgios serve, world number one Daniil Medvedev has already made a big tactical change to his game.
The Russian is known for standing well back on his return of serve, which allows him extra time to fight his way into points.
However, against Kyrgios it opens up the possibility of the underarm serve being a major advantage for the Australian.
Medvedev isn’t messing around though, standing well up in the court from the opening point.
Will the tactic last or is it just to try and unsettle Kyrgios?
‘I’M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT NICK KYRGIOS’
Nick Kyrgios is never far away from the headlines but that doesn’t always sit well with his rival players on the tour.
American Francis Tiafoe was asked about the fiery Australian in his post-match press conference after winning his third round match against Diego Schwartzman.
While he was initially happy to answer questions about Kyrgios, it wasn’t long before enough was enough.
Reporter: I wanted to circle back to Nick Kyrgios and your match with him at the Citi Open. Just a general question about Nick. He’s able to kind of create this chaos in his matches and make the atmosphere crazy and he seems to thrive in it and it’s tough for some of his opponents. I was wondering if you have any observations about it?
Tiafoe: I’m here to talk about me being in the fourth round, I’m not here to talk about Nick Kyrgios.
‘NOT FRIENDS’: FIERY KYRGIOS, MEDVEDEV RIVALRY TO ERUPT
“We are both quite electric. You never know what’s going to happen,” said Medvedev ahead of the blockbuster match.
“I don’t think we are friends. When I say ‘friends’, we haven’t been to the bar together.
“I feel like we respect each other a lot. On the court also we never really had any fight or anything, which can change any moment.
“We are both quite electric. You never know what’s going to happen in the future.
“Nick is a little bit different from other tennis players sometimes on the court. That’s his choice. That’s his life. I’m not the one to judge.”
KYRGIOS’S MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO ‘HATE MY GAME’
Kyrgios can dethrone Medvedev as US Open champion and world No. 1, with the maverick Australian fired up by wanting to defy critics who “hate my game”.
Kyrgios proved his legion of doubters wrong by his barnstorming, controversy-laden run to the Wimbledon final in July where it took Novak Djokovic to stop him.
His performances at the All England Club only served to illustrate the dangers that the 27-year-old possesses.
Kyrgios boasts a winning record against four of the world’s top 10 — including 2-1 against Djokovic and 3-1 when facing Medvedev.
Against world No. 2 Alexander Zverev, the Australian stands at 4-3 and is 4-1 over fifth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek star who accused him of being a “bully” and “evil” at Wimbledon.
Rafael Nadal, at 6-3, and Roger Federer, with a 6-1 winning record, have managed to rein in the Australian’s crowd-pleasing performances.
“I always carry this chip on my shoulder. I have it all in the back of my head when I’m playing,” Kyrgios said.
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“I want to be there. I want to be on prime time. I want to be on that screen, the screen they’re all watching.”
Kyrgios defeated Medvedev in the US Open warm-up in Montreal last month after the Russian had knocked him out of the Australian Open in January.
Kyrgios’s progress to a maiden appearance in the last 16 at the US Open has been typically headline-making.
He accused fans of smoking marijuana which irritated his asthma in the opening round.
He was also fined $7500 after being slapped with a code violation for spitting and swearing in the match against France’s Benjamin Bonzi.
“I know a lot of people hate my game, the way I do things, they way I go about it,” Kyrgios said.
“I always thrive on it. I never want to forget all the things people say.”
Defeat for Medvedev on Sunday would mean he will lose his world No. 1 ranking after the US Open.
The 26-year-old Medvedev has made the semi-finals or better in the last three years at the US Open.
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Originally published as US Open: Nick Kyrgios defeats Daniil Medvedev to book place in quarter-finals
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