- Nick Kyrgios was not happy after being knocked out of the US Open on Wednesday.
- He smashed two rackets following his quarterfinal defeat to Russia's Karen Khachanov.
Nick Kyrgios violently smashed two rackets after being knocked out of the US Open quarterfinals in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The Australian, who had defeated reigning champion Daniil Medvedev in the previous round, was beaten 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 4-6 by Russia's Karen Khachanov.
Afer shaking hands with Khachanov at the end of the match, Kyrgios grabbed two rackets from his bag and smashed them onto the ground.
—Adam Smithy (@AdamJSmithy) September 7, 2022
Kyrgios later told reporters that he felt he had "let so many people down" with the loss.
The 27-year-old is currently enjoying the best form of his career. He finished as the runner-up at Wimbledon in July before winning the Citi Open in August.
He was being widely tipped for victory at Flushing Meadows following his win over Medvedev.
"I feel like these four tournaments are the only ones that are ever going to matter," he said. "It's just like you've got to start it all again. I have to wait until the Australian Open.
"It's just devastating. It's heartbreaking. Not just for me, but for everyone that I know that wants me to win.
"But all credit to Karen. He's a fighter. He's a warrior."
Khachanov said: "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."
A new champion
Of the six players now left in the men's singles draw at the US Open, none have ever won a Grand Slam before.
Khachanov faces Norway's Casper Ruud in one of the two semifinals on Friday.
America's Frances Tiafoe, who knocked out Rafael Nadal, faces Andrey Rublev for one of the other semifinal places on Wednesday.
Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alacaraz then go head-to-head for the final spot in the last four on Thursday.
Third-seed Alcaraz and fifth-seed Ruud are the favorites to win the title. If they meet in the final, the winner will achieve the notable double of winning a first ever major and becoming the new world No. 1.
"I had no idea I could be No. 1 when I started this tournament," Ruud told reporters after breezing past Italy's Matteo Berrettini in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
"It is something all young players think about. It's a bit of extra motivation to dig in and keep fighting. If I am very lucky I can leave New York as world No. 1."