Nick Kyrgios defeats defending champion Daniil Medvedev

(New York) Flamboyant, electric, whimsical, but in control, Nick Kyrgios asserted himself as a serious candidate for the title at the United States Open on Sunday, ejecting from the round of 16 the holder Daniil Medvedev, victim of a double trouble with the loss of its place as world No. 1.

The 27-year-old Australian, who is entering the quarters of the New York Major for the first time, defeated the Russian 7-6 (13/11), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, sending a message to competition.

His capital performance, on Arthur Ashe oozing with dampness, was the brilliant confirmation of a real transformation observed in recent months, after two dark years weighed down by depression and suicidal thoughts.

His tennis was inspired, hard-hitting and fine, without false note or fear or brake, like the high-flying tiebreaker, won with forceps, having erased three first set balls in the process.

“I’m happy to finally be able to show in New York how well I can play. I work every day, really hard”, he reacted hotly, after asking Patrick McEnroe who came to question him if he had “enjoyed” the show.

The Australian decompensated well at the start of the second set, with three double faults on his first play, which allowed Medvedev to escape and then equalize. And he swung his racquet to the ground, not forgetting to belch his frustration. All Kyrgios summed up in a few minutes…

happy madness

But his bright tennis overshadowed his dark side. Even if it means making a mistake, animated by a joyful madness, when he went around the net, at the start of the third set, to put back in the court a backhand from Medvedev yet outside.

“I thought I had the right. It’s going to be all over social media and I’m going to look like an idiot,” he laughed.

His show of force was none the less brilliant until the end. When Medvedev managed to worry him, Kyrgios was able to seek the points, in particular on the fly and with 21 aces, including two chained, followed by a service winner in the 4^e sleeve, to repel a final inclination of his opponent.

His “Let’s goooooooo!” shouted followed by obscenities which earned him a warning. Whereupon he finished the job properly.

The two players faced each other for the third time in 2022. If in January Kyrgios had yielded to the 2^e round of the Australian Open, he took his revenge in mid-August in Montreal.

Meanwhile, in the euphoria of a final at Wimbledon and his victory in Washington, which put an end to three years of scarcity, the player, as talented as he is volcanic, has calmed down somewhat to show himself better. conqueror.

” I’m going to bed. Before, I would have gone out, ”he also concluded at the microphone.

“If he continues like this…”

Kyrgios will nonetheless be scrutinized, with the favorite costume, against another Russian, Karen Khachanov (31^e), who battled to defeat Spaniard Pablo Carreno (15^e).

“It was a high level game. I faced Novak (Djokovic), Rafa (Nadal), who are all playing very well. Nick today played a bit at that level. If he continues like this until the end of the tournament, he has every chance of winning it, ”Medvedev paid tribute to him, after being mistreated as rarely at Flushing Meadows, where he reached the last four of the previous three editions.

Disappointed and defeated, the Russian is certain to lose his place as world No. 1. Which will fall to Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz or Casper Ruud still in the running.

The Norwegian, winner 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2 of the French Corentin Moutet (112^e and drafted from the qualifications), will face in the quarter the Italian Matteo Berrettini, who came to the end 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, of the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (39^e).

Among the women, Caroline Garcia (17^e), whose rating has skyrocketed since his success in mid-August in Cincinnati, and Coco Gauff (12^e), finalist at Roland-Garros in June, will meet at the same stage.

The great hope of American tennis, 18, dismissed Chinese Shuai Zhang (36) 7-5, 7-5^e). The 28-year-old Frenchwoman, who had never exceeded 3^e round at the U.S. Open, swept 6-4, 6-1 American Alison Riske (29^e).