Nick Kyrgios has crushed world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev's dreams of a title defence at the US Open with a 7-6(11) 3-6 6-3 6-2 victory to reach the quarter-finals and ensure there will be a new top-ranked player when the tournament concludes.
In a meeting worthy of a Broadway show between two of the game's biggest servers and most combustible personalities, the fiery Australian was the better in the match's biggest moments, showing off a renewed focus and fitness.
"It was an amazing match," Kyrgios said, before a sold-out crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"Daniil is the defending champion, so there's a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but I played really well. I've been playing amazing the last couple months and what a place to do it, packed house in New York."
Kyrgios delights in shunning the norms of tennis and did so again in a bizarre moment early in the third set, when he ran around the net to hit a ball that Medvedev had sent high in the air, leading Kyrgios to celebrate.
The play cost Kyrgios the point, but seemingly raised his spirits, as he broke for 3-1 and took the set with one of his perfectly executed dropshots.
In the fourth, Kyrgios broke early for a 2-1 lead he would not relinquish and Medvedev began to crumble from there, hitting balls against the back wall in frustration, as he realised the match was out of reach.
"I still can't believe the boneheaded play I made over here," Kyrgios, 27, said of the play where he crossed over to Medvedev's side.
"I thought that was legal to be honest. That's going to be everywhere on SportsCenter, so I'm going to look like an idiot, but that's alright."
The Wimbledon finalist is playing the best tennis of his life, recording the most wins on tour since the end of the French Open.
"I'm just trying to work hard every day, try to make every practice session count, getting to sleep," he said.
"I would have probably been out every night before, but now I've got a great girlfriend. She helps me and my team."
The 23rd-seeded Kyrgios will be a heavy favourite to beat 27th seed Karen Khachanov, when they meet on Wednesday.
Earlier, American teenager Coco Gauff used her superior speed to overcome a second-set deficit and pull off a thrilling 7-5 7-5 win over China's Zhang Shuai to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
With Serena Williams' loss likely signaling the end of her legendary career, American tennis fans are eager to see someone emerge in her place and many have put their hopes on the amiable, hard-serving Gauff.
"It feels insane," Gauff said, after setting up a showdown with in-form Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.
"I mean, Ashe Stadium chanting my name. I was trying not to smile on the bench on the last changeover, I was trying to stay in the moment, but in my head I was smiling.
"I can't believe you guys were chanting like that. It's crazy."
In a battle between the youngest player left in the draw - Gauff, 18 - and the oldest - Zhang, 33 - the Chinese player looked sharper at the outset, breaking for a 2-0 lead in the first set.
But 12th seed Gauff kept her poise to break back, and fired a two-handed backhand winner to claim the first set and electrify the supportive crowd.
Zhang, a human backboard content to extend rallies from the baseline, grabbed a 5-3 lead in the second, when she broke Gauff with a backhand winner of her own.
But Gauff again showed maturity beyond her years, winning the last four games, highlighted by an electrifying point in the final game, when she used her astonishing speed to slide from corner to corner to elicit an error from Zhang.
The crowd roared in approval after the point and Zhang covered her ears to block out the sound, which was amplified by the closed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium, due to rain.
Gauff sealed the nearly two-hour affair on an error by Zhang and the two exchanged a warm hug at the net.
Reuters
