Nick Kyrgios ‘devastated’ after quarterfinal loss to Karen Khachanov as he destroys two racquets on the court


And when he was eliminated in an epic five-set quarter-final by Russia’s Karen Khachanov, Kyrgios’ frustration at such an opportunity that eluded him boiled over: he smashed two racquets on the ground, denting their frames uselessly.

Khachanov, meanwhile, stood on the opposite side of the net with his arms raised as he celebrated his 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-4 victory.

“I honestly feel like shit,” Kyrgios told reporters. “I feel like I let so many people down. These four tournaments [the grand slams] are the only ones that will ever matter. It’s like you have to start everything all over again. I have to wait until the Australian Open. It’s just devastating. Like, it’s heartbreaking. Not just for me, but for everyone I know who wants me to win.”

The first set flew over in 35 minutes, dominated by both players’ big serves, until a couple of errors in Kyrgios Khachanov’s last service game gave the break and the set.

A forced break followed as the Australian took a medical break to treat his left knee before rallying to level the match in set number two.

“Obviously I’ve been playing a lot of tennis over the last few months… I was just doing split steps and just tweaking it a bit,” he later said of his knee. “In the end I felt good. I got some deep heat on it.

Kyrgios’ momentum seemed to carry over into the third set as he scored two break points in Khachanov’s opening game, then two more at 4-4. He failed to capitalize on either of those opportunities, however, and it was Khachanov who capitalized on his chance to go 6-5 to break and take back the lead.

Frustrated by losing that set, Kyrgios smashed a water bottle during the changeover and received an unsportsmanlike conduct warning.

The 27-year-old has already been fined $18,500 for four separate offenses at this year’s US Open, including spitting, swearing and smashing his racquet, according to Reuters.

Despite Kyrgios forcing a fifth set, Khachanov broke in the opening game, earning break points in his next two service games and finishing the match to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the first time. He will now face Casper Ruud on Friday for a spot in the US Open final.

“I’m super happy, super proud that I was able to finish the match, I could endure it,” said Khachanov. “Serve for the game [is] never easy. Yeah, I’m just super happy to take that step forward and reach my first semi-final.”

Khachanov reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 French Open and the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 2021 but never reached a Grand Slam semifinal.

It also marked the end of Kyrgio’s most successful year at Grand Slams following his run to the Wimbledon final in July.

“That’s all people remember about a Grand Slam, whether you win or lose. I think pretty much every other tournament during the year is really a waste of time. You should just run to a Grand Slam and show up, that’s what you’re going to be remembered for.”