It might have been the most Nick Kyrgios match ever played.
There were racquet hurls, furious rants and one of the most extraordinary brain fades of even the Australian’s turbulent career; but in between, Kyrgios played some of his most spellbinding tennis to take down top seed and reigning US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in four sets.
Having reached his maiden grand slam final at Wimbledon just months ago, the 7-6 (13), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over the world number one might be Kyrgios’ finest of an already career-best 2022 season.
He is now surging towards a second chance at a first major title – and this time, there’s no Novak Djokovic standing in his way.
The victory came in spite of a bizarre moment in the third set, which left Kyrgios bemused and onlookers shaking their heads.
At 1-0, 30-30 with Medvedev serving, the Russian could only parry a Kyrgios forehand straight up in the air.
All Kyrgios needed to do to bring up a break point was wait for the ball to bounce: instead, he chose to sprint to Medevedev’s side of the net and smash it away into open court.
To Kyrgios’ surprise, it was deemed a ‘foul shot’, as it is illegal for a player to hit the ball on their opponent’s side of the net.
Kyrgios himself, who admitted to courtside commentator Patrick McEnroe that he ‘thought it was legal’, described the play as ‘boneheaded’ after the match.
The moment quickly went viral on social media, with tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg summing up the mood by describing the moment as ‘the dumbest way to lose a point I’ve ever seen’.
“I still can’t believe the boneheaded play I made over here,” Kyrgios laughed in his on-court interview with McEnroe.
“I thought that was legal, to be honest. That’s going to be everywhere on [ESPN] SportsCenter, so I’m going to look like an idiot!”
Former Australian tennis great Todd Woodbridge was aghast on Channel Nine’s coverage.
“What an error in judgment!” Woodbridge cried.
“That should have been break point… I’ve never seen anything like that in all my time in tennis. That is crazy.”
The point was a rare blunder in a dominant performance from Kyrgios, who out-hit, out-thought and outplayed Medvedev throughout his latest compelling victory.
After squandering an early break in the first set as the reigning champion forced a tie-break, the Aussie needed to dig deep in a memorable 24-point breaker to take a 1-0 lead.
In dramatic scenes, the Aussie would fling his racquet in frustration after losing a crucial point, while repeatedly berating his players’ box for a supposed lack of support.
“I said, tell me where to f—ing serve!” he yelled.
Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts against Daniil Medvedev at the US Open. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Eventually, with his fourth set point, Kyrgios found a way past the Russian, with a combination of drop shots and powerful forehands eventually cracking Medvedev’s normally watertight defence.
Kyrgios’ levels noticeably dropped off in the second set, with Medvedev breaking twice for a 5-1 lead and then closing the set out 6-3, before the Aussie’s epic brain fade occurred early in the third.
However, it would prove a turning point in the game, with Kyrgios quickly tightening the screws despite squandering the break point chance.
With Medvedev beginning to strain under the weight of Kyrgios’ powerful hitting, the 23rd seed broke for a 3-1 lead, then calmly held his nerve despite an unsuccessful underarm serve to close it out 6-3.
“That mistake he made, that usually would have rattled him but now he is playing better,” commentator and former player Jelena Dokic said on Nine’s coverage.
Finishing the match in style with an ace, the Aussie’s stone-faced reaction belied the significance of the win – his second over Medvedev in under a month following his victory over the world No.1 at the Canadian Open.
“I’ve been playing amazing the last couple of months,” Kyrgios said.
“I’m just trying to work hard every day, trying to make every practice session count, getting to sleep – I would probably be up every night before.
“Now I’ve got a great girlfriend, she helps me, she – she – you know.
“We’ve been on the road now for four months, we’ve all got families that we want to see. I want to make it count. This is the last trip before I head back to Australia.
“I want to go all the way, so hopefully it’s possible.”
Kyrgios’ performance was met with acclaim, with Woodbridge describing it as the Aussie’s finest ever performance.
“I rate that as the best match I’ve seen Nick Kyrgios play in a grand slam tournament,” Woodbridge remarked on Nine.
“That was a performance for the ages.”
He wasn’t the only one in awe, with tennis journalist José Morgado describing Kyrgios as ‘almost unplayable’.
Kyrgios’ victory means Medvedev will lose the world No.1 ranking at the conclusion of the tournament, with Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Caspar Ruud all still in the reckoning.
The Australian will next face another Russian in Karen Khachanov for his first US Open semi-final berth.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
How many comments did an article about Ash Barty winning a round 4 match at the US open get in recent years? Tennis Articles on the Roar don’t get much attention because most Roar readers don’t really follow tennis and most of the staff don’t write about it very often. And it’s the staff articles that are written to generate discussion rather than news items like this one.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Come on Jeff - which magical fairytale kingdom have you been living in? There was a time when sporting outcomes were measured by match success, in the context of being a sporting and respectful (to both one’s opponent and to those watching) competitor. The humility of getting across the line, on the day. That was never, ever the case. Cheating and fixing matches occurred in the ancient Olympics. County cricketers in the 19th century would urinate on pitches the night before they were due to bowl. Boxers have been taking dives for centuries. Rugby was invented by a kid deliberately breaking the rules of soccer. Tennis players have always argued with umpires and employed gamesmanship to throw off their opponents. Kyrgios is good for the sport because he draws attention to it and is currently playing the best tennis of any player in the world. These days his tantrums are mainly directed at his own box. His interaction with the crowd is theatre which would probably be the highlight of the tournament for most spectators, including the ones he directs his frustration at. His sportsmanship is actually superior to many players who strategically use toilet breaks and fake injuries to halt an opponent’s momentum, or previously accepted coaching from their box during a match.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I have never doubted his ability as a tennis player however as a human being, I have the opposite opinion. Hope he doesn’t go all the way. Come on Rafa!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Why is he good for the sport? Why is someone, that is even remotely open to being hated, a good thing for the sport? Is it a money thing? Eyeballs.. or is it the money-earning potential; the "can't look away from the horror/embarrassment" of the carry-on, that validates his sporting worth? There was a time when sporting outcomes were measured by match success, in the context of being a sporting and respectful (to both one's opponent and to those watching) competitor. The humility of getting across the line, on the day. Perhaps now it's about game success, irrespective of being sporting, so long as the money returns are easily measurable.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Four (ok, now 5) comments on the three Kyrgios articles leading the tennis Roar forum. – An Aussie beats the World #1 and defending US Open Champion – and it’s mostly crickets re interest. – Says it all really. – No doubt there will those that are attracted to the microcosms of reasons to support NK. But I suspect most of his countrymen are indifferent at best to his exploits. Probably replicated globally.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Nick Kyrgios is growing up and maturing into a player that could prove unbeatable in a year or so. Big prediction? The way he is speaking he is just sounding a lot more grown up. Some of the antics are still there but ever hear of a guy called McEnroe, he did ok didn't he? And the shot he played in the third set? It was a brain fade and I can see how he was tempted by it, I hope people don't focus only on that though.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Very impressive. Pumped the World #1, who is also the reigning champ.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
All hail the Kyng
Bloke7
Roar Rookie
Love him or hate him he is damn entertaining and good for the sport. As always the only person capable of beating Nick is himself.