This time, Nick Kyrgios already stunned his opponent before the party. The Russian Karen Khachanov is a passionate chess player because in chess, as in tennis, it is important to be mentally two moves ahead of your opponent. Of course he knew that you have to be prepared for anything with the unpredictable Australian, but he really hadn’t expected that. They met at the net for a coin toss, towel bucket choice and photo, when Kyrgios pulled his chewing gum out of his mouth and stuck it to the edge of the net. Just like that, and nobody said anything.
However, it was the only really amazing action by Kyrgios in this quarter-final, the other one had already seen everything and could count on it: punches through the legs, bullying against one’s own followers and girlfriend, debates with the referee and the announcement that to be so severely injured in the left calf in the first set that it was impossible to continue playing – but then of course he held out for five sets. In those he showed formidable serves that really nobody can predict; his backhand thundering down the line, a soulful stop-lob combo. The complete repertoire.
Surprisingly among the last four: the Russian Karen Khachanov.
(Photo: Charles Krupa/dpa)
The fact that Kyrgios still lost this game 5: 7, 6: 4, 5: 7, 7: 6(3), 4: 6 was not his fault; and it’s surprising how amazing that sounds: Kyrgios is losing, and he hasn’t defeated himself. He simply lost to someone who was even better that night. Khachanov served just a little bit better than Kyrgios; he used his powerful forehand a little more effectively and a little more cleverly in decisive moments. And he reacted to the mad blows of the opponent, who electrified the audience and himself with it, with a relaxed, I expected attitude – and then he often served an ace.
It’s a strange US Open, because in almost every round one breaks away, which is on tip slips as winner noted: Stefanos Tsitsipas right at the beginning, then Hubert Hurckacz, Daniil Medvedev, Rafael Nadal – which led to the interesting constellation that it was clear even before the quarter-finals that someone would win their first Grand Slam tournament.
At the site almost everyone said this would be Kyrgios; often with the addition of knowing it from the start. Now that’s out too, and that leads to the match between Khachanov and Casper Ruud (Norway) on Friday. Anyone who entered this semi-final in a betting game should have amazed the other players more than Kyrgios did with his chewing gum on the edge of the net.