Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev will not defend his victory at the US Open Grand Slam and will lose his position as world number one. The 26-year-old Moscow native lost to Australian Nick Kyrgios 6:7, 6:3, 3:6, 2:6 in the round of 16 on concrete courts in New York.
Medvedev, who has not yet lost a set in the tournament, lost the match to Kyrgios in less than three hours. Even 22 aces and 49 winning balls weren’t enough for him. He scored his worst result at the US Open since 2018, when he was eliminated in the third round.
Medvedev praised the winner, “It was a high-level match like Novak or Rafa. I think Nick played at a similar level today.”
He noted that “it is difficult to face him, he has an amazing serve. If he plays this way until the end of the tournament, he has a great chance to win it. But he still has strong opponents.”
The 27-year-old has improved his previous record at the US Open. He also defeated Medvedev in August in the tournament held in Montreal. In total, he has four victories and one defeat with him.
Kyrgios will play in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the fourth time in his career and for the second time in a row. He last reached the final at Wimbledon, where he lost to Novak Djokovic. However, the Serb will not start in New York due to his refusal to vaccinate against the Corona virus.
“It was a great match,” Kyrgios said after the match on Arthur Ashe. “Daniel is the defending champion and there was a lot of pressure on him. But I’ve played really well. I’ve played a great game over the past few months. Nowhere else do I show him here at Full House in New York,” added the Australian, who collected 21 aces and 51 balls. winner.
The Australian Stormtrooper, known for his strange behavior, drew attention to himself this time as well. In a dramatic first set tiebreak, where he avoided three set points and himself converted the fourth set at 12:11, he threw the racket several times to the ground.
At the start of the third set, when the duel was breaking in his favour, he played the ball again clearly heading for the car even before it hit the ground and ran carelessly to the other side of the net. Instead of a break point, he received a penalty and later lost the match.
Kyrgios was mad at himself: “I still can’t believe the stupidity I did. I thought it was okay. But now you’re going to spread all the sports news again and I’m going to look like an idiot.”
However, the unprecedented situation did not dampen the Australian, and has dominated ever since. By the end of the match, Medvedev was allowed only four matches and, thanks to an impeccable service, made progress.
He will face the 23rd player in the other Russian championship, Karen Khanov, in the next round, who defeated Pablo Karicha 4:6, 6:3, 6:1, 4:6, 6:3.
Also continuing is seventh seed Kasper Rudd, who defeated Corentin Moutet 6:1, 6:2, 6:7, 6:2 and is the first Norwegian in history to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final at Flushing Meadows.
At this year’s Roland Garros, the 23-year-old will face Matteo Berrettini’s 13th in it. The Italian tennis player beat Spain’s Alejandro Davidovic 3:6 7:6, 6:3, 4:6, 6:2 after three hours and 46 minutes.
Fifth-seeded Roode only served once in the match and scored 43 winning points. The furthest he’s run so far at a Grand Slam in New York was round three two years ago. France’s Moutier was the first player in US Open history to reach the round of 16 from a lucky loser position.
Rome-born Berrettini has qualified for the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam tournaments for the fifth time in a row. The 2019 US Open semi-finalist also collected 18 aces in a five-set battle against Davidovich.
Among the women, Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia advanced to the top eight. Cincinnati’s last general Petra Kvitova defeated Alison Riske Amritrajova 6:4, 6:1 for her 12th straight win. She reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the second time in her career, having only played it at Roland Garros in 2017.
Garcia’s next opponent will be American Cory Gauff. At the age of eighteen, the Atlanta player reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the third time and her first at the US Open. This year’s Roland Garros final erased the lack of a break in both sets in the duel against China’s Zhang Shuai and twice won 7:5. In New York, he became among the top eight for the first time.
Ajla Tomljanovic celebrated the same success. Australian killer Serena Williams beat Russia’s Lyudmila Samsonova 7:6, 6:1 in the third round. She ended her thirteen winning streak in a row and will face Tunisia’s Aun Gabrova in the semi-final battle. The Wimbledon finalist defeated Russia’s Veronika Kudretova 7:6, 6:4 and will make her first appearance in the US Open quarter-finals.
US Open Tennis Championships in New York (hard surface, $60 million grant):
men:
Singles – Round Four: Kyrgios (23-Australia) – Medvedev (1-ros) 7:6 (13:11), 3:6, 6:3, 6:2, Khachanov (27-rus) – Karishu (12-sp. ) 4: 6, 6: 3, 6: 1, 4: 6, 6: 3, Rod (5 light) – Mutit (Father) 6: 1, 6: 2, 6: 7 (4: 7), 6: 2, Peretini (13) – Davidovich (sp.) 3: 6, 7: 6 (7: 2), 6: 3, 4: 6, 6: 2.
Women:
Singles – Round Four: Tomlyanovikova (Australia) – Samsonova (Russia) 7:6 (10:8), 6:1, Jovova (12 – USA) – Zhang Shuai (China) 7:5, 7:5, Garciaova (17 – Fr) – Riskeová-Amritrajová (29-USA) 6:4, 6:1, Džábirová (5-Tun.) – Kuděrmětová (18- Russia) 7:6 (7:1), 6:4.
Young girls:
Singles – first round: Havelichkova (2-CR) – Hamilton (US) 6:3, 6:4.
