Nick Kyrgios says he doesn’t care about playing any other tournament this season after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
The Wimbledon semi-finalist was ousted 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, in a marathon battle that lasted almost four hours. In a match of fine margins, Khachanov secured the decisive breakthrough at the start of the decider by breaking Kyrgios as he battled towards victory. It is the first time in his career that the 26-year-old has reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament.
It was evident that Kyrgios was bitterly disappointed in narrowly missing out on a place in the last four. Moments after the match was completed, he smashed two rackets on the court. He hit one on the court three times before throwing it and then threw another into the ground.
“I’m obviously devastated. But all credit to Karen. He’s a fighter. He’s a warrior. I thought he served really good today. Honestly probably the best server I played this tournament, to be honest, the way he was hitting his spots under pressure.” Kyrgios said during his press conference.
“He just played the big points well. Really wasn’t anything in it. I’m just devastated. Just feel like it was either winning it all or nothing at all, to be honest. I feel like I’ve just failed at this event right now. That’s what it feels like.”
Besides facing an in-form Khachanov, the Australian also had to battle with his own body. After dropping the opening set, he called for a physio for treatment on his knee. He was heard on camera saying ‘I can’t walk. I can’t walk without pain, it’s too much.’ Although he was able to continue playing.
“I just split-stepped and just tweaked it a little bit. Ended up feeling fine. I got some Deep Heat on it. Everyone is carrying a bit of a niggle right now. Nothing major.” He later assured reporters about his injury.
“I didn’t end up feeling it towards the third, fourth and fifth. I felt great physically. At the end of the match, honestly, I felt fine. Just mentally distraught.”
The defeat comes during a period of Kyrgios’ career where he is playing some of his best tennis. Since the start of the grass-court swing, he has won 26 matches which is more than any other player on the ATP Tour. He is now projected to rise back into the world’s top 20 next week for the first time since February 2020.
However, it is unclear as to what Kyrgios will do next. When asked what his future plans are, he admitted that Grand Slams are the only events he really cares about. Unexpectedly branding ATP events that take place throughout the year as a ‘waste of time.’
“I don’t even really care about any other tournament. I feel like at the Grand Slams, now having success at a Grand Slam, it’s just like no other tournament really matters.” He said.
“It’s like you get better, you get worse, then at a Grand Slam none of it matters. You either win or lose. People don’t really care if you got better on the day or you lost 4 in the fifth or played one of the best matches of the tournament. You lost, so..’
“That’s all people remember at a Grand Slam, whether you win or you lose. I think pretty much every other tournament during the year is a waste of time really. You should just run up and show up at a Grand Slam. That’s what you’re remembered by.”
Kyrgios later indicated that he will be playing at the Japan Open in Tokyo.
As for Khachanov, he will take on Casper Ruud in the semi-finals on Friday. Seeded 27th in the draw, it is the fifth time in six years that a player seeded 20th or below has reached the last four at Flushing Meadows.
