US Open day nine wrap: Caroline Garcia in seventh heaven, Nick Kyrgios spits fire but goes down

US Open
US Open

Nick Kyrgios exited the US Open in a bad-tempered five-set loss to Karen Khachanov.

Russian Khachanov pulled off a 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-7 (3) 6-4 victory just before 1am to reach his first grand slam semi-final, celebrating while Kyrgios destroyed two rackets and walked off court.

Khachanov will meet Casper Ruud for a place in the final while Ons Jabeur and Caroline Garcia set up a last-four clash in the women’s tournament.

Who’s up next?

The singles quarter-finals conclude on Wednesday, with Iga Swiatek the only former grand slam champion remaining in either draw.

The world number one will look to take another step towards a first slam title away from the French Open when she faces American Jessica Pegula while Karolina Pliskova meets Aryna Sabalenka.

In the men’s matches, Frances Tiafoe returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium after his upset of Rafael Nadal to face ninth seed Andrey Rublev while young guns Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner do battle in the night session.

Picture of the day

US Open
Caroline Garcia leaps in delight (Charles Krupa/AP)

Point of the day

https://twitter.com/usopen/status/1567294846490259456

Quotes of the day

“I did it, guys. Finally, you are showing me some love,” Karen Khachanov to the mostly pro-Nick Kyrgios crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium after his quarter-final win.

“It’s just devastating. It’s heartbreaking. Not just for me, but for everyone that I know that wants me to win,” said Kyrgios after his five-set loss

“I think I’m gonna be fired from my job as Minister of Happiness,” Ons Jabeur on possibly losing her nickname after banging her racquet in frustration during her quarter-final win over Ajla Tomljanovic.

“I probably should reflect a little bit and just give myself a little pat on the back, because I do deserve it. It’s probably my biggest thing that I’m bad at that I just don’t give myself enough credit. I’m very hard on myself,” Ajla Tomljanovic, who knocked out Serena Williams in the third round, after losing to Jabeur in the quarter-finals.

“It’s definitely tricky, especially when you’re hitting good serves. I was hitting a couple 120s on the serve, the return was coming back faster. Usually you expect that to happen once or twice, but it was happening a lot with her today,” Coco Gauff on the firepower of Caroline Garcia after losing her quarter-final to the Frenchwoman.

“Nothing more I can say than the worst day of the tournament probably in the most important moment. Nothing today,” Matteo Berrettini after his straight sets defeat to Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals.

WTA Finals heading to Texas

The WTA has announced that its flagship event, the end-of-season finals, will be held at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, from October 31 to November 7.

A long-time, lucrative deal with Shenzhen in China has been disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic and concerns over the well-being of Peng Shuai but the WTA confirmed the intention is to return there next year.

Fallen seeds

Women: Coco Gauff (12)
Men: Matteo Berrettini (13), Nick Kyrgios (23)

US Open day nine results

US Open results on Tuesday (x denotes seed; players representing Russia and Belarus are banned from competing under the name or flag of their countries):

Men

Quarter-finals

Karen Khachanov (x27) bt Nick Kyrgios (AUS x23) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4

Casper Ruud (NOR x5) bt Matteo Berrettini (ITA x13) 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)

Women

Quarter-finals

Caroline Garcia (FRA x17) bt Coco Gauff (USA x12) 6-3, 6-4

Ons Jabeur (TUN x5) bt Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)

Caroline Garcia Coco Gauff Nick Kyrgios Ons Jabeur

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