06 September,2022 08:49 AM IST | New York | AFP
Nick Kyrgios throws his racquet in frustration during the match against Daniil Medvedev. Pic/Getty Images
Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios sent defending champion and World No.1 Daniil Medvedev crashing out of the US Open 2022 tennis in an explosive Last-16 clash on Sunday. Wimbledon runner-up Kyrgios triumphed 7-6 (13/11), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach his first quarter-final in New York where he will face another Russian, Karen Khachanov.
Medvedev will lose his world top ranking after being defeated by Kyrgios for the fourth time in five meetings. Kyrgios fired 21 aces and a total of 53 winners past his outclassed Russian opponent. "It was an amazing match, obviously Daniil as the defending champion had a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but I've been playing amazing the last couple of months," Kyrgios said after
the win.
"What a place to do it - packed house in New York. I'm extremely blessed. Losing the Wimbledon final was a bitter pill, but now I want to go all the way here. I'm glad I can show my talent - it's only taken me 27 years."
Also Read: US Open 2022: Nick Kygrios claims fans were smoking marijuana
ALSO READ
‘So many firsts last year’
US opens another Tesla probe, latest focused on tech that remotely returns car to driver
From Champions Trophy 2025 to Wimbledon, save the dates for mega sports events
Sabalenka ‘fresh and ready to go’ for Aus Open
Kyrgios, Djokovic to pair up in Brisbane before Aus Open
In a fast-paced, big-hitting first set, Kyrgios broke to lead 4-2 before Medvedev immediately repaired the damage. A marathon tiebreak saw a 22-shot rally and Kyrgios save three set points. A furious Medvedev added spice to the encounter by complaining to umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore about the noise from the Kyrgios player box when he was serving from their end.
At the changeover, the Russian even threatened to refuse to play on if the disruptions continued. Kyrgios left the court for a bathroom break, but when he returned, his high-energy level dropped dramatically and Medvedev swept to a 5-1 second set lead on his way to levelling the contest. Kyrgios then made the baffling decision to come around to Medvedev's side of the net to finish a point in the second game of the third set. His illegal manoeuvre cost him what would have been a break point. However, he quickly broke the equally baffled Russian for a key 3-1 lead before pocketing the third set.
A fired-up Kyrgios broke for 2-1 in the fourth set, was handed a code violation for swearing and responded with back-to-back aces timed at 122mph and 131mph to stretch to 3-1. He backed it up with another break for 4-1 as Medvedev wilted under the barrage before Kyrgios sent down his 21st ace to seal victory.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever