The current world number 1 Daniil Medvedev met the Australian and the tourney’s 23rd seeded Nick Kyrgios in a fourth round match. Theirs was one of the exciting projected fourth round encounters in the men’s draw – and it was under the lights on Ashe while Karen Kachanov(27) battled Pablo Carreño Busta(12) over on Armstrong all the way to the fifth.
The Australian broke serve in the sixth game of the opening set, but failed to consolidate. They both began their clash with passive striking of the ball, but quickly found their feet as the set wore on. As many audience members expected the opening set went to a tie break. Kyrgios, not playing badly, varying his pace of shots, serving well, threw his racket to the ground upset at squandering a 4-1 lead in the tie break.
Medvedev’s movement and his defensive skills at the baseline matched his opponent’s intensity. A 133m/ph ace served down the T awarded Kyrgios his first set point which was immediately wiped off the board by Medvedev’s ace in response- thrillingly down the T as well. Minutes prior to that, the Wimbledon finalist fended off the Russian’s first set point by serving brilliantly out wide on the deuce court, forcing an unforced error from Medvedev. One of the impressive qualities considering the Kyrgios serve is his ability to disguise it. The opponent is never quite able to get a read on where he will go for it. It is lightning fast, and he can place it anywhere, nearly acing his opponent each time. In the same breath, much can also be said about the Medvedev first serve, and his good hands at the fore court.
More set points would be in store for both players, but it was Kyrgios who appeared more unsettled. After 18 minutes of play though in the breaker alone, Kyrgios converted his fourth set point to win the set 7(13)-6(12).
1st set Stats:
1st serve in play: Medvedev 55% – Kyrgios 76%
Winners: Medvedev 23 – Kyrgios 21
U/E’s: Medvedev 9 – Kyrgios 11
Total Pts W: Medvedev 47 – Kyrgios 46
Medvedev got off to the kind of start he hoped for in the second set by getting the early break to lead 2 love. With a 117m/ph ace in the third game he set himself up with 2 game points at 40-15 to consolidate for a 3 love lead.
Kyrgios was unfocused when Medvedev rushed to serve out the second set up 5-1 in only 30 minutes of the set’s running time. Weirdly, he retrieved a single break and served at 2-5 – hoping to deny Medvedev another chance to close off the set, thereby leveling the match.
Kyrgios prolonged the set a bit, but it was not easy to see Medvedev failing to win the set at 3-5. He lost his first set point on his second serve but he managed to convert his second set point to win the set by 6 games to 3.
2nd set Stats:
1st serve in play: Medvedev 66% – Kyrgios 57%
Winners: Medvedev 7 – Kyrgios 7
U/E’s: Medvedev 5 – Kyrgios 13
BP’s W: Medvedev 2/5 – Kyrgios 1/1
The third set saw Kyrgios choosing to volley frequently behind his serve, subsequently facing the brunt of the Medvedev passing shot off both his forehand and backhand. After 7 games played though, it was the Australian who led by 5 games to 2. He went on to win that set 6-3 and led by 2 sets to 1.
It was one-way traffic somewhat still in the fourth set after 6 games played when Kyrgios led 5-1, forcing his opponent to serve to stay in the match. Although Medvedev had his moments in the match where his game came alight, he never really got going to produce his best tennis which saw him go all the way to win the US Open title last season. He held off Kyrgios by holding serve to record his second game of the fourth, but the 27 year old colorful Kyrgios had all eyes on him when he served for the match in the following game.
Medvedev’s choice of shots throughout the match was questionable at best – case in point was opting to play a dropper after running down the one from Kyrgios at a crucial stage in the match… at 15 all (where he should have thrown his body on the line and fought to have a look at breaking the Kyrgios serve for a fighting chance in the ongoing affair). Kyrgios of course made the passing shot winner to edge his opponent 30-15.
The match was on his racket then, and he concluded the match by not blinking, serving a 126m/ph ace down the T. He registered good numbers at the end of the match, with 15 winners coming from his forehand alone.
Kyrgios won 7-6(13-12) 4-6 6-3 6-2 to advance to his first Quarter Final.
Match Stats:
1st serve in play: Medvedev 59% – Kyrgios 71%
Winners: Medvedev 49 – Kyrgios 53
F/E’s: Medvedev 56- Kyrgios 32
BP’s W: Medvedev 3/8 – Kyrgios 5/7
Aces: Medvedev 22 – Kyrgios 21
Kyrgios: “I’m just trying to work hard every day. I just don’t wanna’ let them down (about his team). I’ll take it one match at a time.I’m just glad that I’m finally able to show New York my talent. I haven’t had many good trips here to be honest, I haven’t played great tennis. So I’m really glad that I’m able to show you guys the work and the dedication finally. It took me 27 years.”
