Russian Karen Khachanov was eliminated from the 23^m crushed Nick Kyrgios in five sets 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the US Open.

Khachanov thus reached the semi-finals of a major event for the first time in his career. It will be opposite to 5^m shut out Casper Ruud in the next round, with a spot in the tournament final at stake. Roode won the only duel between the two players.

“I did it…I did it!” Thanks! Khachanov commented after the game.

Khachanov took 3 hours and 39 minutes to overcome Kyrgios for the second time in his career.

“It was a crazy match and I expected it. I was ready to run, fight, play five sets. We played for almost four hours and that’s the only way to beat Nick I think. »

The Russian was the first to serve himself a break of service in the match. Late in the first set, with both players on even serve, Khachanov broke Kyrgios with a superb point to win the set 7-5.

Kyrgios wasted no time in recovering. From 3^m game of the second set, he broke Khachanov’s serve and his lead held to win the set 6-4.

The story of the first set repeated itself for Kyrgios in the third set. Trailing 6-5 in the set, the Australian dropped his serve and saw Khachanov survive with another set at 7-5.

Then at 4^m set, after Kyrgios and Khachanov traded two service breaks, the Australian dominated the tiebreak to force a final set.

Khachanov crushed Kyrgios in the first game of the fifth set to cruise to victory.

Kyrgios knocked out ATP No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in the round of 16. For his part, Khachanov had the upper hand against Pablo Carreno Busta.

Rude remains relentless

Very solid, Kasper Ruud (7th in the world), advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open, where he is aiming for a first Grand Slam title, being unyielding 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7 /4) against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini (14th), Tuesday in New York.

The 23-year-old Norwegian, who reached the last four for the first time at Flushing Meadows, will try to do better against Australian Nick Kyrgios (25th), the scarecrow of the event, or Russian Karen Khachanov (31st).

Under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe, the rain that had started the day in New York, Rudd’s very aggressive start led to drumbeats, combined with the disjointed start of Berretini, who piled up mistakes effortlessly (40 to 23), allowed the Norwegian to lead two sets to nothing after just 1:14.

“It was my best start to the tournament. Everything was going as it should and Matteo was not serving as well as usual. I was a little nervous towards the end of the second set because things were going pretty well. You think you can walk on water, which you can’t,” he commented.

The Italian, who managed to break out in the second round, albeit in vain, nevertheless showed the beginnings of a possible turnaround. The impression was confirmed at the start of the third set, after he went 3-0 down, eventually starting to return his shots inside the court, turning his opponent more and more.

But Rudd didn’t let himself get counted out. After saving two set points, he managed to steal the Italian’s serve and then fell back into his mistakes, rushing his ball strikes.

The title and the throne?

And in the tiebreak the Norwegian, still compact and stable, did not fail to finish it.

The clay-court specialist, on whom he has won eight of his nine titles on the circuit, including three in 2022 in Buenos Aires, Geneva and Gstaad, with a lost final at Roland Garros to ocher king Rafael in between Nadal. Rudd is taking a big step on the concrete this season.

In April, he reached the final of the Masters 1000 in Miami. The ease was confirmed at the Masters 1000 in Montreal in early August where he was stopped in half.

In New York, he was unimpressive, notably being pushed to five sets by American Tommy Paul in the third round. But his fourth straight win in six meetings against Berretini demonstrates his ability to raise his game.

Which allows him to fuel the dream of a possible first Major crown, combined with the possibility of finishing World No. 1 at the end of the tournament.

A cherry that will land on the cheesecake, New York’s quintessential cake, if he wins the tournament or reaches the final and Carlos Alcaraz, the current 4th in the world at 19, falls short.