Nick Kyrgios' quest for a maiden grand slam title is over after he was knocked out in a thrilling US Open quarterfinal.
That's it, it's all over.
Nick Kyrgios' quest for a maiden grand slam title is over after he was knocked out by Karen Khachanov in an epic US Open quarterfinal on Wednesday (AEST).
The Russian played superbly in the crucial moments and claimed a thrilling 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-7 6-4 victory over five sets.
Kyrgios was on the back foot after losing the first set and appeared to be nursing a niggling leg injury, calling for a medic after the first set.
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"I can't walk without pain," he was overheard saying.
The Australian later told his box: "I don’t want to f****** play through this s***."
But Kyrgios managed to shake off the injury concern, playing through the pain and winning the second set to even the scores.
However, Khachanov quickly returned serve by winning the third set, putting himself one set away from booking his spot in the semi-finals.
Kyrgios then hit back, going to another level deep in the fourth set to win the tiebreak and force a decider.
But despite having the advantage of serving first in the fifth set, Kyrgios was immediately broken in the opening service game and never recovered.
It was a typical Kyrgios performance as he relied on his huge serve and frequently let rip at his coach's box.
But he only had himself to blame for blowing key opportunities to get the upper hand with countless unforced errors.
Kyrgios gifted Khachanov a break in the second set when he botched two questionable serve and volley attempts, before later handing his opponent a break back on a silver platter with a double fault.
It's a hugely disappointing result for Kyrgios, who was in red-hot form and rated one of the favourites to win the US Open after he knocked out World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round while Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas lost earlier in the tournament.
The Aussie was furious after the match - smashing two racquets on the court in frustration in an epic tantrum.
Remarkably, none of the players left in the men’s singles draw having ever won a grand slam singles title.
Khachanov will next play fifth seed Casper Ruud in the semifinals.
Kyrgios had the advantage of serving first in the fifth set but immediately squandered at as Khachanov broke in the Aussie's opening service game.
It will be a mammoth effort for Kyrgios to win from here.
Khachanov still leads by a break of serve after Kyrgios couldn't capitalise on a break point at 30-40.
We're heading to a fifth and deciding set.
After giving up a break of serve, Kyrgios held his nerve to force a tiebreak, which he won 7-3.
The Aussie went to another level late in the set, ripping a sensational backhand down the line to win an epic rally.
What a rally?! Huge winner down the line…. #eek #Kyrgios
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_Meadows) September 7, 2022
UNBELIEVABLE rally.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 7, 2022
After a dramatic third set, the fourth got underway with four uneventful games that remained on serve.
Kyrgios claimed a crucial break in the fifth game, with Khachanov's lofty forehand landing behind the baseline.
But the drama was far from over, with a double fault from Kyrgios gifting Khachanov a break to immediately put the fourth set back on serve.
A huge early BREAK for Nick in the 4th set! 🎾
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) September 7, 2022
🖥️ The US Open | LIVE on 9Gem, 9Now and Stan Sport.#USOpen #Tennis pic.twitter.com/QhSVik1fxC
While I do enjoy Kyrgios – his inability to deal with adversity and implode is kind of annoying.. he’s obviously super talented but has no head. #USOpen
— Lenny Jacobson (@Lennyjacobson) September 7, 2022
Kyrgios vs Khachanov live score: 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 4-4
The opening game of the third set went to deuce three times, but Khachanov kept his composure to hold serve.
The next seven games remained on serve, with the third set threatening to go to a tie-break.
Kyrgios had a golden opportunity to secure a break when he went ahead 40-15 at 4-4, but the Aussie botched both of his break points.
He was left fuming, smashing his poor racquet in an explosive outburst.
Kyrgios bout to blow a gasket
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) September 7, 2022
And to make matters worse, Khachanov managed to secure two set points in the following game.
But the Russian absolutely bundled a certain forehand winner before a well-directed Kyrgios serve completed the great escape.
Khachanov didn't have to wait long for another chance, going ahead 40-15 in the 12th game to clinch another two set points.
And Khachanov finally went 2-1 ahead in the match when Kyrgios registered yet another backhand unforced error.
The Australian began screaming at his comrades in the player's box during the interval, throwing his drink at the ground in disgust.
Kyrgios vs Khachanov third set score: 5-7, 6-4, 5-7
Nick Kyrgios quickly recovered from his leg injury to snare an early break in the second set, threatening a comeback at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Aussie started putting on a show for the vocal spectators, pulling off a tweener before his backhand winner prevented a game point for Khachanov.
Thankfully for Kyrgios, not many rallies are lasting longer than three or four shots, meaning it hasn’t been a taxing contest thus far.
Kyrgios brought the crowd to its feet after executing an absurd drop-shot at 5-4 to put himself within touching distance of winning the second set.
And after botching two set points, Kyrgios got the job done to even the scores in New York.
The Canberran's powerful serve is what's keeping him in the contest.
Kyrgios levels the match with and the crowd is on their feet! pic.twitter.com/nyU1QaGFP1
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2022
The only good thing?#Kyrgios is not playing well – not remotely like the man who dusted Medvedev two days ago – but he has still leveled the set count, winning the second. He can still do this, despite not being at his best.
— Peter FitzSimons (@Peter_Fitz) September 7, 2022
This set should tell the tale. #USOpen22
Kyrgios vs Khachanov second set score: 5-7, 6-4
The New York crowd, headlined by television presenter Trevor Noah and Hollywood actress Amanda Seyfried, were undeniably throwing their support behind the Australian as the first set got underway at Flushing Meadows.
Speaking on Channel 9, former Australian tennis star Todd Woodbridge suggested the venue's closed roof may work in Khachanov's favour.
“It certainly levels the field a little bit for him,” he explained.
“If we had fast outdoor conditions and we talked about variety, the percentages go towards Kyrgios in those types of conditions. It just makes it an easier, cleaner ball strike for Khachanov with no breeze, no elements.”
The opening four games of the first set remained on serve, with neither player threatening to steal an early break.
But when the fifth game got underway, Nick Kyrgios started stretching and shaking his left leg, seemingly in some discomfort.
Have the excuses already begun with Kyrgios or is he legit injured. He’s hitting it well but immediately flexing leg after lost points.
— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) September 7, 2022
Kyrgios does not look right, folks.
— Gerald Butts (@gmbutts) September 7, 2022
The first set seemed destined to go to a tie-break until Kyrgios gifted his opponent a break point at 5-6 with an unforced error, and Khachanov made no mistakes.
Kyrgios immediately called for a medic after losing the first set.
"I can't walk without pain," he was overheard saying.
He also told his box: "I don’t want to f****** play through this s***."
Former world No. 4 Jelena Dokic described the Kyrgios' body language as “flat”.
“It looks a little bit more muscular as opposed to being structural which comes from a bit of wear and tear,” Woodbridge said of Kyrgios' injury.
Kyrgios vs Khachanov first set score: 5-7
Nick Kyrgios and Karen Khachanov have entered Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York ahead of their quarter-finals clash.
The match will get underway in the next 10 minutes.
France's Caroline Garcia has defeated local young gun Coco Gauff on Arthur Ashe Stadium in straight sets 6-3 6-4.
Nick Kyrgios' quarter-final is moments away…
For Nick Kyrgios to book his place in the US Open semi-finals, the Australian will need to topple a "pelican" he butted heads with two years ago.
During the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Kyrgios regularly called out tennis stars who blatantly ignored biosecurity protocols and put others in danger, including former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
The Aussie's Twitter antics, inevitably, rubbed some people the wrong way – including Russia's Karen Khachanov.
The US Open quarter-finalists exchanged some heated messages on the social media platform two years ago, with those tweets resurfacing ahead of Wednesday's match in New York.
Khachanov: “I really think you are a good lad and I don’t have any problem with you. But once you are sitting at home and writing different comments about players that makes me think who has the real problem.”
Kyrgios: “So you think what the players did during this pandemic was smart? I’d love to have an intellectual conversation with you but I’m not sure it would go further than how hard you could hit a ball. I’ve simply been holding people accountable.”
Khachanov: “And next time before talking about my intellect read at least a few books, instead or playing video games whole day long.”
Kyrgios: “I’ve also been feeding the hungry, helping open up new facilities for kids to get active. But way to do your research you absolute pelican.”
In case you are wondering.
— Anand Datla (@SportASmile) September 5, 2022
Expect a juicy quarterfinal between Karen Kachanov and Nick Kyrgios pic.twitter.com/dkJaz28mer
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