US Open: Kyrgios vs. Khachanov - Hacked Racquets, Unread Books
Karen Khachanov and Nick Kyrgios clash in the quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open. In the two previous matches it was high.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Sep 05, 2022, 06:06 pm
The history of the games between Nick Kyrgios and Karen Khachanov is very short. But all the more moving for that. Because in the two previous matches there was no lack of drama. The last time the two quarter-final competitors of the US Open 2022 met in Melbourne at the beginning of the 2020 season. Kyrgios won the first set 6: 2 - then four decisions in the tie-break followed, the Australian kept 7: 6 (5), 6: 7 (6), 6: 7 (7) and 7: 6 (8). upper hand.
The meeting at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati 2019 is perhaps even better remembered. Yes, that was the evening when Kyrgios briefly left the square to smash two thugs in the catacombs. Which earned him a belated warning from chair umpire Fergus Murphy, who initially had no idea what actually happened.
Khachanov won this game in three sets, there is not much love between him and Kyrgios. In the summer of 2020, there was a spirited exchange on Twitter, in which Khachanov suggested to his Australian colleague that he should read a book every now and then instead of just indulging in video games.
#IMG2#
Kyrgios as a purified man
Two years later, Nick Kyrgios presents himself as a purified man. It is not known whether this has something to do with increased reading volume. Apparently this season, however, Kyrgios has realized what can be achieved with a more serious approach. Namely a final in Wimbledon. Or a quarterfinal at the US Open for the first time. Against Daniil Medvedev, Kyrgios only tried a serve from below, the meanwhile legendary excursion into the Russian half remained a remarkable side note in the end.
But Karen Khachanov is also in pretty good shape. Against Jack Draper in round three, Khachanov still benefited from the young Briton's surrender, but the success against Pablo Carreno Busta in the round of 16 was really remarkable. And if Khachanov had been allowed to choose an opponent for the quarter-finals in New York, he would probably have chosen Kyrgios. Because his last encounter with compatriot Medvedev in Canada in 2019 was anything but nice, as Khachanov said after his success against Carreno Busta.
Here the individual tableau in New York
nycmap