Show only key events Please enable JavaScript to use this feature Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 5-7 2-2 Khachanov* (* – denotes next server) Winner, winner, ace, ace. Kyrgios’ service games are routine… until they aren’t, at 5-6 in the first and third sets. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 5-7 1-2 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) Khachanov simply does not make mistakes. Just 18 unforced errors to Kyrgios’ 41. Just a double fault. If you want to be picky, he’s only won 58% of his first serves. But he’s won 71% of his second serve points so it doesn’t matter. It holds love. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 5-7 1-1 Khachanov* (* – denotes next server) Kyrgios steps up to the line to serve, looks across and sees no opponent. It’s not like Khachanov was milking the transition. Kyrgios just wanted to move on so quickly. Khachanov takes a point off Kyrgios’ serve, but it’s routine. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 5-7 0-1 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) I’m not sure Body Armor wants that kind of publicity. Kyrgios turns in his seat and takes a sip of water. He then picks up a bottle of Body Armor and breaks it. Another bottle of unknown liquid is also destroyed. The ball boys take out towels and Kyrgios gets a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. Khachanov is simply in control in every sense, and he holds the love. Updated at 04.30 BST
Karen Khachanov wins the third set 7-5
oh dear An indeterminate mistake by Kyrgios makes it 0-30. Another makes 15-40, and Kyrgios speaks angrily again. A long rally follows, and Khachanov has won most of them. He’s doing it again. Kyrgios seemed to be better for so much of this set. Now he has lost 2-1. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 5-6 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) Again, I want some of that cream the gymnast put on Kyrgios’ leg. He fights one way and hits it the other to make it 15-15. He faces a second serve on the next point and hops several feet before Khachanov swings. They take it out now. The rallies are getting longer. Khachanov gets noisier, with a martial arts film “Hynnuuhhhn!” with most of his shots. Or maybe “Hiyhhn!” A Khachanov error makes it 40-30 and a “Here we go, Nicky” chant breaks out. There is more noise as Khachanov prepares to throw the ball for his next serve and the umpire calls for quiet. He gets it, more or less, and Khachanov closes out the game. So we’ll either have a tiebreak or a 2-1 Khachanov lead. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 5-5 Khachanov* (* – denotes next server) During the change, Kyrgios slapped a camera. No cameraman. One camera. And his bad mood extends to the first two spots, where he just isn’t as sharp as he used to be. He takes the next one, but his serve-and-volley attempt at the next one is just weak. Two set points. Kyrgios then opens the door wide, hanging a drop shot where Khachanov can hit it. And it does. Maybe 10 feet wide. Inexplicably. Ace. Two. Ace – oh excuse me, “forced error from back hand”. Ad-Kyrgios. Another “forced error”. Kyrgios has kept. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 4-5 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) Yeah right. Kyrgios mixes in two unusual shots at 15-15, and leads 15-30. A well-earned winner then brings the crowd to its feet. For the first time tonight, Kyrgios is busy swinging his racket for more noise. The referee has to calm the crowd down before we get to the two break points. The first one doesn’t last long. Ace. Nice answer from Khachanov. Kyrgios comes back well in the next, but after a brief exchange, hits wide. The racket collapses. At deuce, Kyrgios makes an excellent rally, threatening on every shot. Somehow, Khachanov stays in and Kyrgios hits the net. Khachanov holds with an ace and Kyrgios stomps into change, furious with himself for missing this opportunity. Mad Nick is in the house. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 4-4 Khachanov* (* – denotes next server) I have a suggestion, so hear me out: No tiebreaks in the first four sets. If a set ends 6-6, it is a tie. A match would be a 2 1/2 set first rather than a three set first. Example: Dure wins the first set. Lutz wins the second set. The third set is tied. Then I win the fourth. That’s 2 1/2 sets. I win. Anyway, Kyrgios hits a service winner, forces an error, then hits two aces. That was probably less than a minute. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 3-4 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) Can I take what the trainer puts on Kyrgios’ leg? It’s moving pretty well now, and we’ve got some decent rallies. Khachanov then hits some aces to hold. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 3-3 Khachanov* (* – denotes next server) A double fault upsets Kyrgios, but he comes right back with a serve that Khachanov barely touches and another that he can’t. A second ace in a row completes the hold. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 2-3 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) At 15, Kyrgios has Khachanov do his impression of his friend Energizer, or possibly the last ship in a Space Invaders game. Khachanov manages to win that one, then the next, then the next, and we’re still on serve. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 2-2 Khachanov* (* – denotes next server) Nick Kyrgios is good at serving. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 1-2 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) At 30-0 Kyrgios yells at someone about something. First time we really saw it tonight. Khachanov then fires an ace and another powerful serve to hold at love. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 1-1 Khachanov* (* – denotes next server) Kyrgios holds love. Easy. Can someone bring me a cake? I’m about to have a sugar crash. I neglected to mention this a few games ago. Kyrgios 5-7 6-4 0-1 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) Break point for Kyrgios after powerful shots. Khachanov responds with an ace. Another big backhand from Kyrgios. Another great serve by Khachanov. We’re finally slowing down. Few rallies. Some games will distract. That goes there for the third time, but Khachanov uncorks to hold a boom or two. C Meredith notes my last comment about writing for Brits and Aussies: “So I’m writing to let you know that I’m a Yank following your comment and I can’t be the only one! I love all of The Guardian’s tennis commentary and miss the nights it’s not available. Keep up the fantastic work!” Quick personal note: I was working at USA Today when I started noticing The Guardian’s live coverage. I “borrowed” the idea and tone for our coverage. It’s fun to come round and be here at The Guardian. It’s almost like Weird Al had the chance to play with Madonna.
Nick Kyrgios wins the second set 6-4
Kyrgios makes the absurd seem simple. Serve and volley, with the volley being a shot that travels in a tiny arc over the net and falls lightly down the court. But it also makes the simple look absurd. He tries the same shot again and misses. An unimaginable error leads us astray. A powerful serve gives him another set point. Another powerful serve gives him the set. One set each. Total time 1:16. Gauff and Garcia took 1:37 and played three less games. Updated at 03.38 BST Kyrgios 5-7 5-4 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) An ace makes it 30-15 for Khachanov. A shot that everyone but Hawk-Eye thinks was successful makes it 40-15. Kyrgios hits the next return a little too wild, content to try to serve out the set. Kyrgios 5-7 5-3 Khachanov* (* – denotes next server) The ball plays a surprising amount on the first two points, resulting in an error each time. Kyrgios then draws a sideline with a second serve that Khachanov can’t return cleanly. A double fault makes it 30-30, but Khachanov can barely touch the next serve. Kyrgios then simply beats Khachanov in the next rally to be held. Kyrgios 5-7 4-3 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) At 0-40, Kyrgios decides to play a shot through the legs for fun. The next shot is a winner. Even when he’s not particularly excited or flustered, Kyrgios is a showman. Khachanov then closes the game. Stat: Kyrgios has 14 aces and 29 winners. He also has 19 unforced errors to Khachanov’s five. In Kyrgio’s defense there weren’t many spots where Khachanov could hit an unforced error. Kyrgios 5-7 4-2 Khachanov* (* – denotes next server) Boom boom boom boom (harmonic riffs). Two aces, two unforced errors. Who needs to be able to move when you can serve like this? Kyrgios 5-7 3-2 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) Nice backhand winner for Kyrgios but then it’s two aces and two more shots Kyrgios can’t come back. Carmine Branagan tells me via email that my comment is a million times better than what he delivers (name of major US news organization not ESPN). Yeah, but I’m writing for a bunch of Brits and Aussies, so I have to be… what’s the word? Polite? No it’s not that. I will think about it … Kyrgios 5-7 3-1 Khachanov* (* – denotes next server) Short concentration. Ace. Serve and volley winner. 40-0. But then it’s two unmarked errors on his backhand, the second on a service attempt and a volley that sinks into the net. The next serve sends Khachanov wide but Kyrgios can’t parry it. Khachanov lobbies. Kyrgios runs back to try the shot through the legs but finds the net. Two. Kyrgios pulls Khachanov into the net with a drop shot, then hits a mid-speed lob that floats right over Khachanov and lands normally. Khachanov follows with an unforced error and Kyrgios holds. Kyrgios 5-7 2-1 Khachanov ( – denotes next server) Kyrgios prepares for a good shot on the first point. Khachanov gets the next two but then double faults. 30-30. Khachanov drives one down the baseline and nears the net. Kyrgios neatly drops it right into the net, and Khachanov straddles it without letting it bounce. Breakpoint! Long rally. And it continues. By the standards of this match, this is an absolute epic. Kyrgios has the better of it, barely needing to move on his injured leg and finally has Khachanov faltering. Kyrgios has his day off. It still seems…
