Karen Khachanov defeated Nick Kyrgios in a late-night five-set thriller in the US Open quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Khachanov, seeded 27, triumphed 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-4 over the Wimbledon runner-up to make the last four at a major for the first time.
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“I feel like I’ve let so many people down,” said Kyrgios after the match.
A meltdown from Nick Kyrgios after losing in the US Open quarterfinal! pic.twitter.com/hUTaihlTBF
— Third and Five Podcast (@thirdandfivepod) September 7, 2022
“It’s just devastating, it’s heartbreaking. Not just for me, but for everyone that I know that wants me to win.
“But all credit to Karen. He’s a fighter. He’s a warrior.”
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Khachanov withstood 31 aces and vocal crowd support for his opponent en route a thrilling win in three hours, 39 minutes.
“I did it. I did it, guys. Finally, you are showing me some love,” Khachanov told the mostly pro-Kyrgios crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
🗣️ "Now you're giving me some love!"
A little tongue in cheek from Khachanov after playing nearly four hours in front of a very pro-Kyrgios crowd. 😆😆#USOpen #Tennis pic.twitter.com/xiBX5tdSfX
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) September 7, 2022
“It was a crazy match I was expecting it would be like this. I’m ready to run, to fight to play five sets. We played almost four hours and that’s the only way to beat Nick.”
Khachanov fired 30 aces and a total of 63 winners past Kyrgios.
‘Walk on water’
The Russian will next take on Casper Ruud, who has a shot of reaching World No 1.
Ruud defeated Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4) to make his second Slam semi-final of 2022 having finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the French Open.
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The Norwegian raced through the first two sets under the roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium before 2019 semi-finalist Berrettini stopped the rot with a break for 2-0 in the third.
#UsOpen 𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐈-𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 🔓
➡️ Khachanov overcomes Kyrgios in a five-set lung-buster 😲
➡️ Jabeur dispatches Tomljanovic in straight sets 😎
➡️ Sublime Ruud beats Berrettini in double-quick time 🤩
➡️ Garcia records a commanding 6-3, 6-4 win over Gauff 👏#GoBigOrGoHome pic.twitter.com/4N2ItiBSSe
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 7, 2022
At 2-5 down, the 23-year-old Ruud saved two set points before recovering and going on to dominate the tiebreak.
“It was a better start to a match than I ever had before. Everything was going my way plus Matteo didn’t serve as well as he usually does,” said Ruud said.
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“I got a little nervous towards the end of the second set because things were going a little too well.
“You think you can walk on water, which is not possible. The third set was very tough.”
Results
Men’s quarterfinals
27-Karen Khachanov bt 23-Nick Kyrgios 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-4
5-Casper Ruud bt 13-Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4)
Women’s quarterfinals
17-Caroline Garcia bt 12-Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-4
5-Ons Jabeur bt Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 7-6 (4)
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