Karen Khachanov defeated Nick Kyrgios in a 5-set thriller 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 6-7(3) 6-4 to enter US Open semifinals.
Khachanov survived booming Nick Kyrgios serves and crowd support for the Aussie to enter his first Grand Slam semifinal.
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Karen Khachanov broke Nick Kyrgios when the first opportunity arrived and closed the first set 7-5 as Kyrgios got some treatment afterward as he struggled to walk.
He recovered himself nicely to win a comfortable second set 6-4. Both sets featured plenty of short points and a lack of energy from the crowd.
It was the third set that made the crowd get involved.
Nick Kyrgios was visibly frustrated when he missed out on 2 break point opportunities in the 9th game of the 3rd set.
He continued to create chances for himself but could not consolidate.
After smacking his racquet on the court, he saved 2 set points in the 10th game.
But he wasn’t able to save another as Karen Khachanov continued to make returns to make Kyrgios draw errors.
Nick Kyrgios smashed a bottle on the court before the 4th set.
He however regained his consistency as he played a composed tiebreaker to take the match to a decider.
Karen Khachanov broke Kyrgios to start the 5th set and continued to save breakpoints in service games.
He maintained a good consistency and a high level under severe pressure to close the set.
Nick Kyrgios smashed two racquets before leaving the court.
The highest-ranked Australian player in the world missed out on a chance to win his first Grand Slam title.
Reactions from Karen Khachanov and Nick Kyrgios
“I did it! I did it!,” Khachanov said. “I’m really proud of myself, I was focused from the beginning to the end. It was a crazy match but I came ready to fight and to play five sets.”
“From the beginning until the end, great performance – at least I will talk about myself, from my side,” Khachanov said in his post-match press conference.
“I stayed there. I waited for my chances. I created them as well.
I’m super happy, super proud that I could finish the match, I could take it.
Serving for the match [is] never easy. [I am] just super happy to do this step forward to make my first semi-final.”
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Karen Khachanov will face Casper Ruud in the semifinal as both of them look forward to playing their first US Open final.
Casper Ruud defeated Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(4) as he also eyes to become the new World No. 1.
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“I’m obviously devastated. But all credit to Karen. He’s a fighter. He’s a warrior.
I thought he served really good today,” Kyrgios said in his post-match press conference.
“Honestly probably the best server I played this tournament. The way he was hitting his spots under pressure. He just played the big points well.
“Really wasn’t anything in it. I’m just devastated obviously. Just feel like it was either winning it all or nothing at all. I feel like I’ve just failed at this event right now. That’s what it feels like.”
