The Russian eliminates the Australian and meets Ruud for a place in the final
Nick Kyrgios’ dream to become Grand Slam champion came to an end in the quarterfinals of the US Open. Russian Karen Khachanov won the duel between the two strikers (5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (3) and 6-4) and will play his first semifinal in a Major.
The Moscow player, who had never made it past the third round in New York, achieved the best result of his career in this type of tournament after posting thirty aces and 63 winners against Kyrgios. In a swinging game, with alternatives to both, Khachanov, a former student of Spain’s Galo Blanco, finally awakened a talent long talked about but never exploited.
In three hours and 41 minutes and against a Kyrgios who netted 75 winning shots, Khachanov adds another win to his two weeks in New York during which he had a quiet path boosted by Jack Draper’s withdrawal in the third round, until he had to knock out Pablo Carreño in five sets in the round of 16.
The Russian ended the adventure of a Kyrgios who was the favorite to win the tournament for the bookmakers and before the elimination of Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev. The 27-year-old Australian had never had such a favorable view of taking a Grand Slam, including at Wimbledon, where he reached the final, but there he ran into Novak Djokovic.
“I’m broke. For me this tournament was all or nothing. I feel like I failed, I feel bad, like I let people down,” said Kyrgios, who also noted that he had knee problems in this one. last match. Still, it’s a positive US Open for Kyrgios, who is back in the world’s top 20 next Monday. It will be the first time the Australian has stepped into these positions since February 2020.
Khachanov will face another rookie in this round in the semifinals, Norwegian Casper Ruud, who quickly defeated Italian Matteo Berrettini (6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4)). Ruud completely dismantled the Italian striker’s game to reach the semi-finals in New York for the first time in his career. The Norwegian remains on the shortlist to become world number one and will have to win the tournament or lose Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter- or semi-finals to reach it. In this scenario, Rafael Nadal needs the elimination of Ruud in the semi-finals and Alcaraz in the quarter- or semi-finals to remain first in the standings.
Thursday’s game between Khachanov and Ruud will be the second in their career, after the Norwegian won in three sets at the Masters 1,000 in Rome in 2020.
Source: La Verdad
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