(New York) Karen Khachanov, 31e world, qualified for his first semi-final of a Major at the US Open, beating 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 the Australian Nick Kyrgios (25e), on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday in New York.
Posted at 7:34
The 26-year-old Russian will face the Norwegian Casper Ruud (7e), who also reached the last four for the first time at Flushing Meadows after his victory at the expense of the Italian Matteo Berrettini (14e).
It is a relative surprise to see Kyrgios come out, he who had made such a strong impression in the previous round, by taking the best of the future ex-world No.1 and defending champion Daniil Medvedev in a brilliant way.
A performance that soon made the 27-year-old Australian, as volcanic as he was talented, a scarecrow or even the new favorite of the event. Especially since Rafael Nadal also took the door on Monday in 8eejected by the American Frances Tiafoe.
But it was without counting on Khachanov, former 8e world, notably winner at Bercy in 2018, who for his third quarter of a Major, after Roland-Garros in 2019 and Wimbledon last year, was remarkably consistent, without refusing the showdown initiated by Kyrgios. The Australian, who was not really having a good night, certainly had more winning shots (75 against 63), but he also made almost twice as many unforced errors (58 against 31).
Above all, the Russian was very realistic by converting 4 of the 8 break points he created, when the Australian only succeeded 2 times out of 9.
Kyrgios soon showed the apparent signs of a bad night, complaining of pain in his upper left calf flirting with the outer ligament area of his knee. The intervention of the physiotherapist allowed him to last the whole match, but his mobility obviously suffered.
” You make me ashamed ”
“I don’t want to play with the pain”, he cursed next to his box, while not far away, a spectator seated in the first rows, was having his hair cut by a hairdresser… A scene like no other. sees only in New York, where the ambient hubbub never stops, despite the complaints of the players or the repeated instructions of the referees.
Kyrgios fought hard to stay in the game, however, winning the second and fourth sets, after giving up the first and third in the same way, when he cracked his serve at 6-5. He then had across his lack of realism on the important points, insulting himself: “you make me ashamed, you do not know what a break point is! “, before throwing on the ground a bottle of energy drink that he had just emptied.
He missed two in the fifth round, led from start to finish by Khachanov, who took superb revenge there, more than two years after his defeat in 3e round of the Australian Open, which had also been extremely close, with Kyrgios winning in five sets, including four tiebreakers.
“It was a crazy match, I expected it to be like this. I’m ready to run, fight and play five sets. We played almost four hours and I think that’s the only way to beat Nick,” said the Russian, whose best result in 2022 is reaching the final in Adelaide.
Here he is two wins from a Major title. But that will require going over Casper Ruud. “The further we go, the higher the goals. I have nothing to lose,” he warned.