- Nick Kyrgios (ATP 25) throws out Daniil Medvedev (ATP 1) at the US Open in the round of 16.
- The Australian shows an almost flawless performance and defeats the defending champion 7: 6 (13:11), 3: 6, 6: 3, 6: 2.
- In the quarterfinals, Kyrgios will face Karen Chatschanow (ATP 31).
- After the round of 16, one thing is certain: Medvedev will no longer be world number 1 after the US Open.
The two protagonists had promised a spectacle before the direct duel in the round of 16 – and they delivered, and how. Nick Kyrgios has once again proven that he feels most comfortable on the big stage. Visibly spurred on by the impressive atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Australian unleashed all his skills against Daniil Medvedev and put an abrupt end to the Russian’s mission to defend the title.
After 2:53 hours and with the 21st ace, Kyrgios sealed the defeat of world number 1. A defeat that has consequences for Medvedev: On Monday, the 26-year-old will no longer lead the ATP rankings. In order to defend the top position, Medvedev should at least have reached the final in New York.
A total failure as a key moment?
After Kyrgios and Medvedev had shared the first two rounds, events came to a head in the starting phase of the 3rd set:
- In the 2nd game, Kyrgios slipped away when trying to return a ball. The Australian briefly remains on the court, distorted by pain, but then quietly gives the all-clear.
- Right at the next point, Kyrgios makes an embarrassing mishap. He plays the ball with complete conviction on the opposing side. Because this is not allowed, the point goes to Medvedev instead of Kyrgios. The whole thing is given additional explosiveness because Kyrgios loses a breakball that was believed to be safe with his action.
Amazingly, this series of negative events had a liberating effect on Kyrgios. On the other hand, Medvedev suddenly got off track. At a score of 1:2 in the 3rd round, the Russian gave up a 40:0 lead on his own serve and conceded the break after losing 5 points in a row. Last year’s winner in New York was unable to recover from this setback. Kyrgios confidently managed the lead and secured the 2-1 set lead.
Show running instead of turning
Anyone who believed that Medvedev would make a big comeback was wrong early on in the 4th round. Already in the 3rd game Kyrgios managed the first service breakthrough, a little later he let another one follow to decisively pull away 4:1. The 25-year-old couldn’t take this cushion anymore.
For Kyrgios it was already the 4th victory in the 5th duel with Medvedev. Who knows where the path of the showman in Flushing Meadows will lead. If he plays like he did in the round of 16, Kyrgios is definitely a candidate for tournament victory. In the quarter-finals against Karen Chatschanov (ATP 31), the Australian rises as a favorite.
