(Tennis news) Defending champion Daniil Medvedev was defeated by Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (11) 3-6 6-3 6-2 to reach the US Open quarter-finals for the first time in his career. The result means that the Russian tennis player is now set to lose his number 1 ranking. It was a fantastic opening set that ended in a tie-break as Kyrgios, who was leading the set 4-1 faltered to let Medvedev tie 5-5. Momentum eventually went in Kyrgios’ favor and he clinched the fourth set point with a calm and composed drop shot. 

After having a drop in focus during the second set, Kyrgios bounced back in the third, repeatedly seizing Medvedev’s serve to clinch one of the best victories of his career so far. Medvedev, who will concede his number 1 ranking to one of Rafael Nadal, Casper Ruud or Carlos Alcaraz said that he felt under the weather and thus underperformed. In the next match, Nick Kyrgios will take on another Russian, Karen Khachanov, who defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-3.

Speaking after the match against Medvedev, Kyrgios said “I've been in some really tough situations mentally, and in some really scary places. Obviously if you look at it on paper, I probably wasn't expected to win that. Maybe take a set or two if I'm lucky. Give the people a show. It's a great win. But I come off the court and I'm just almost relieved that it's over because there's just so much pressure every time I go out on court, so much expectation, so much unpredictability of what I can do. I just sat there in the locker room after and I'm just super proud of the performance because there was really a time where I didn't think I was capable of producing and doing this any more. 

"I just mentally struggled so hard for the first six, seven years of my career. I had great results, shocking results, tried really hard, then tanked. I honestly didn't know how to deal with any of it. I beat myself up way too hard. It was unhealthy. I look back, it was just all a learning process to now because I've matured so much. I know the process now of what it takes to get to a final of a grand slam. Not to win it yet, but to get to the final. It's the last biggest tournament of the year. We've got to try and just tough it out and keep pushing each other, keep being positive. Next week we're going home. But three more matches potentially, then we never have to play tennis again." 

Medvedev said “It was a high-level match. I've played Novak, Rafa. They all play amazing. Nick today played kind of their level, in my opinion. If he plays like this until the end of the tournament, he has all the chances to win it. I'm not going to cry in the [press] room, but I'm a little bit disappointed. For a few days I'm going to be just a little bit sad, looking at my phone, my laptop or watching some series. But that's motivation, try to do better. Obviously it was the last slam of the year. I didn't do well enough." 

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