Zimpapers Logo

NEW YORK. — Nick Kyrgios said winning is the only thing that matters at a Grand Slam and that he was “devastated” by his five-set loss to Karen Khachanov in the US Open tennis quarter-finals on Tuesday.

The Australian went toe-to-toe with Khachanov but did not do enough to counter the Russian’s punishing serve as he fell 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-7(3) 6-4 to end his bid for a maiden Grand Slam title.

“I’m just devastated obviously,” Kyrgios told reporters

“Just feel like it was either winning it all or nothing at all, to be honest. I feel like I’ve just failed at this event right now.”

Kyrgios said Khachanov, who saved seven of the nine break points he faced, was the better player in the biggest moments as the 27th seed punched his ticket to a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time.

Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios had knocked out world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in the previous round but the 27-year-old said lifting the trophy was all that mattered.

“All people remember at a Grand Slam, whether you win or you lose,” he said.

“I think pretty much every other tournament during the year is a waste of time really. You should just run up and show up at a Grand Slam. That’s what you’re remembered by.” Sent packing at the final major of the year, Kyrgios said it will be an agonising wait until the Australian Open kicks of the Grand Slam season next year.

“It’s just like you got to start it all again  . . . It’s just devastating,” he said.

“It’s heartbreaking. Not just for me, but for everyone that I know that wants me to win.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Norwegian fifth seed Ruud defeated Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to make his second Slam semi-final of 2022 having finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the French Open.

Khachanov fired 30 aces and a total of 63 winners past Kyrgios.

“I did it, guys. Finally, you are showing me some love,” Khachanov told the mostly pro-Kyrgios crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“It was a crazy match I was expecting it would be like this. I’m ready to run, to fight to play five sets. We played almost four hours and that’s the only way to beat Nick.”

The Russian said he had “nothing to lose” when he faces Ruud tomorrow.

“I would like to win it,” said Khachanov who lost to the Norwegian on clay in Rome in 2020 in their only previous meeting. — AFP