Show only key events Please enable JavaScript to use this feature Medvedev 6-7 3-1 Kyrgios ( – denotes next server) Medvedev wins a point on an accurate drop shot, but the rest of the game is all Kyrgios. As mentioned a few games ago, Karen Khachanov will be the next opponent for one of these gentlemen, having defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Medvedev 6-7 3-0 Kyrgios* (* – denotes next server) Medvedev has a lot of love for towels in this game. Not surprising given the late summer humidity on the east coast right now. Kyrgios flirts with a serious penalty by hitting the ball towards the stands. He doesn’t reach high enough to hit anyone so he can go back to worrying about things happening on the field, which, in that game, was just that. Medvedev holds. Medvedev 6-7 2-0 Kyrgios ( – denotes next server) Medvedev takes advantage of Kyrgios net approach to score a clear winner. He takes the next point and then takes three set points with Kyrgios double-faulting. Kyrgios keeps his cool with a powerful serve and a forehand winner in the corner to save two, then wins with an ace. Then it’s another double fault. Kyrgios is talking to himself or potentially a demonic apparition that only he can see. At the next gathering she sees Kyrgios go and then fall over the edge of the cliff. Medvedev gets to Kyrgios’ missed drop shot, then stretches out to hit Kyrgios’ lob attempt. Medvedev then hits a sloppy forehand and Kyrgios volleys… into the net. Big mistake from the Aussie in that game and he’s on a break. Medvedev 6-7 1-0 Kyrgios* (* – denotes next server) The people in the Kyrgios box are not popular people. Kyrgios has fallen out with his own company at times in this tournament. Now Medvedev is annoyed, telling the referee that Kyrgyz’s people are making noise when they shouldn’t. Medvedev says the next time it happens, he won’t play until someone comes out. And then it holds love.
Nick Kyrgios wins the first set 7-6 (1,382-1,380)
Medvedev serves and after a brief rally, Kyrgios nonchalantly hits a drop as if mixing his morning coffee and Red Bull. Set point again. This time, Medvedev pops and hits away. 13-11 Kyrgios. (My title is an exaggeration.) Medvedev serves and again gives Kyrgios the opportunity to drop a second serve. Kyrgios wins a short rally to win another set point, this one on his serve. Kyrgios serves. Error, in the net. He plays the next rally very aggressively until he finally relaxes a little, then relaxes too much and hits the net. 10-10, and this set has been over for an hour. And Kyrgios is once again shaken by some unseen force. Kyrgios serves and then plays the mother of all drop shots to win another set point. Medvedev serves and makes a rare net approach to win the point. Kyrgios hits his racket again. Aren’t these things expensive? 11-11. The winner will face Karen Khachanov tonight. Kyrgios serves and looks surprised to be returned. One error later, Medvedev has set the point. Medvedev serves and barely misses a set-clinching ace. Krygios then sees a second serve well and hits a backhand winner down the line. Medvedev serves. Ace, and he’ll have another set point. Kyrgios serves, runs Medvedev back and forth, then fires a shot to the side that any sane person would scream. Thanks to Hawk-eye, Kyrgios is left by a thread. Kyrgios serves, hits a winner and now has set point. Medvedev serves, ace, 9-9, change again. This is going to be a big night, isn’t it? Medvedev serves and moves out of position several times. Then it’s a lazy shot into the net by Kyrgios, who responds by hitting his racket. Looks like a small piece broke off. 5-5 Medvedev serves and immediately wins set point. Kyrgios serves and Medvedev hits long. 6-6. Ace Medvedev. King ace. Medvedev wins a big rally (22 shots, the longest of the night) to put us back on serve. Kyrgios serves, and Medvedev hits badly. 3-1 Kyrgios serves, and it’s an old serve and volley that works to perfection. 4-1 Medvedev serves and Kyrgios closes on his second serve. But Medvedev turns the tide to score a cool winner. 4-2 at the change. First set tiebreaker Kyrgios serves, and it’s a bomb. 1-0. Medvedev serves. Kyrgios gets it back, but with a bit of venom on it, and Medvedev slams it home. 1-1 Medvedev serves on the Kyrgios forehand and Kyrgios hits the line before Medvedev can get out of the service move. 2-1 Kyrgios, mini break. Medvedev 6-6 Kyrgios Perhaps someone with a better understanding of the mechanics of the service clock can explain why Kyrgios is so flustered. “I’m playing faster on Tour,” Kyrgios tells the umpire during the changeover. “I’m going back to the baseline and there’s four seconds left. What are you doing”?” Well, I have to disagree with something. And maybe it motivated him. With some great, deceptive shots, he forces the duo. Now Medvedev is annoyed because Kyrgios is apparently talking a bit between points. The chair umpire leans forward and wonders what she did to deserve this assignment. Medvedev wins the next two. Time for the tiebreak. Medvedev 5-6 Kyrgios ( – denotes next server) Bit of a blunder at 30-0 for Kyrgios as he let the ball go, thinking it might go wide, only to see it land about five feet. Kyrgios wins the next, but loses the next, and then… it’s Mad Nick, arguing with the chair umpire about the service clock. He smartly plays the next point with a nice drop that forces Medvedev forward, then calmly hits an unguarded court to hold. Medvedev 5-5 Kyrgios* (* – denotes next server) Medvedev holds to love, with two aces. Statistics in 10 games…
Kyrgios has six aces and has won 82% of his first serves. Not many uncorrectable mistakes either way: 6 Kyrgios, 5 Medvedev
Medvedev 4-5 Kyrgios (* – denotes the next server) Have I used the word “awesome” yet tonight? Somehow Medvedev got back to 15-15, he was in the center of the ball and forcing Kyrgios to stretch to reach. Smash, smash, smash, and Kyrgios holds on anyway. Medvedev will serve to extend the set. Medvedev 4-4 Kyrgios* (* – denotes next server) Kyrgios takes the first point. Ace, won the rally, ace, backhand winner from Kyrgios’ return. That was quick. Medvedev 3-4 Kyrgios ( – denotes next server) Now Medvedev urges the crowd to his side, miraculously dropping the ball in front of Kyrgios’ feet right into the net to go up 15-30. He wins the next and has two break points. Kyrgios uses almost all of his serve to compose himself and then dominates the next rally. But Medvedev calmly returns everything in the next, Kyrgios hits the net and we’re back on serve.
Summary
Medvedev 2-4 Kyrgios* (* – denotes next server) Ready… BREAK! Kyrgios wins a break point with some good shots to move Medvedev from side to side. Kyrgios does his best to pump up the crowd, gets a response and then sees Medvedev push the next one a little hard. Next door at Louis Armstrong Stadium, we have a fifth set between 12th Seed Pablo Carreño Busta and 27th Seed Karen Khachanov. Coco Gauff moved on earlier today. He is a fan of Kyrgios: Medvedev 2-3 Kyrgios ( – denotes next server) I blinked. Kyrgios held. Anyone else think they should raise the nets in men’s tennis? Medvedev 2-2 Kyrgios* (* – denotes next server) A quick smile between the two players as Medvedev flies just wide. How do you keep the peace? In the past, this probably would have been a big argument. Especially if one of the players in the ESPN booth whose name ends in “enroe” was playing. Medvedev keeps love. Medvedev 1-2 Kyrgios ( – denotes next server) Game 3 begins with a 20-shot rally in which both players must cover some ground before Kyrgios hits the net. Kyrgios rebounds with some big serves, including an ace on the second serve. Then it’s a double fault, and it’s 30-30, but that’s just a break in a streak. Nick Kyrgios makes his entrance. Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images Medvedev 1-1 Kyrgios* (* – denotes next server) Kyrgios looks very ready for the match tonight. Medvedev has a strange first point. Next, Kyrgios forces the No. 1 seed to run wide, then rushes the net. Medvedev breaks back once but Kyrgios runs out an easy winner. An ace turns the tide but Kyrgios wins the next for two break points. Medvedev is No. 1 for a reason, of course, and that reason is an accumulation of positive results over a period of time fed into some kind of math… anyway, he plays a few points skillfully and then hits a drop shot. Ad Medvedev, and forces the Aussie to hit hard on his next return. Crisis averted. Medvedev 0-1 Kyrgios ( – denotes next server) After Kyrgios’ ace, we have a fairly tame rally that ends when Medvedev catches the proverbial blood to the head and taps out. Kyrgios misses the next point, but Medvedev returns the factor. Antenna. Ace. 133 mph. Ouch. No, the match hasn’t started yet. This isn’t even a Serena ceremony night. Tomorrow is a holiday in the US, so I guess no one is in a rush. OK, here we go – Medvedev won the toss and let Krygios serve first. Ace. Kyrgios tells ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe that he is looking forward to playing the best player in the world on the best court in the world. Both players agree that their serve will be very important. Wouldn’t it be hilarious if a player said otherwise? Updated at 00.18 BST I’m Beau Dure! Northern Virginia Traffic Winner! King of football refereeing! Why is my computer taking so long to load! Big thanks to Tom for starting this party. We are looking forward to a great match starting at 7pm. US Sports Time (9am AEST), which means maybe… 10 minutes? Updated at 00.18 BST While we wait for the players to take the court, here’s what Coco Gauff did for Arthur Ashe earlier: These two have played each other twice already this year with…
