The eight-seed Karen Khachanov took on the Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios in the round of 32 of the Western & Southern Open 2019. Khachanov won the drama-filled encounter 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-2 and advanced into the next round.

In the second set, Kyrgios engaged in an argument with the chair umpire, Fergus Murphy and constantly brought the reference of the World Number two, Rafael Nadal and his service games again and again into the squabble.

Set One: 

The Australian, Nick Kyrgios went down a break at 4-2 with the Russian consolidating his service, it gave him a thriving lead of 5-2 in the opening set. Thereafter Kyrgios called his physio and said, “I don’t feel very good today.”

World Number 27, Nick Kyrgios made a comfortable hold by coming up with three aces in his service game. Karen Khachanov boarded to service for the set at 5-3, but erroneous tennis from the Russian allowed Kyrgios to stay in the opening set at 5-4.

Coming up with consecutive aces and faking underarm serves, Kyrgios held his service to love at 5-5. A dominant form of Khachanov emerged in the next game with hefty serves and winners.

On the Australian’s serve, Kyrgios had a held a 40-0 lead, faulty tennis from the Canberra-native immediately gave rise to a set point to Khachanov at 6-5 (Ad-40) and the big-server of tennis, Kyrgios saved it with a second serve ace and outperformed the World Number eight tennis player in the tiebreaker.

Set Two: 

The quality of tennis was maintained in the major part of the second set none of them could get hold of their return games.

Out!

Kyrgios was 30-0 up at 4-3, but with faulty backhands back to back from Kyrgios, the Russian made a gutsy hold.

Intentional….?

Khachanov faced four break points on Kyrgios’ serve, the Australian came up with courageous tennis on the break points, and made a stronghold at 5-4 and began quarreling with the chair umpire over shot-clock. 

An altercation with the chair umpire

“Rafa is playing that quick? Hilarious. Hilarious. Hilarious! If Rafa plays that quick, I’m retiring from tennis. Rafa’s routine alone takes 20 seconds. This is a joke. I’m one of the fastest players…” argued Kyrgios.

“Nobody calls the score as fast as you,” said Kyrgios. “It depends on the shot,” chair umpire replied. He mentioned Nadal at least ten times on the court and also called the chair umpire Fergus Murphy a “disgrace” and a “potato”.

In the midst of everything, Khachanov held the set in the tiebreaker.

Set Three: 

Nick Kygrios was finally given a point penalty in the third set.

Locker Room Scenes

He violated another rule by leaving the court without the umpire’s permission and destroyed two racquets in the locker room. Before losing his serve at 4-2, Kyrgios addressed the umpire,  “Rafa doesn’t play this sport. He doesn’t. What sport does he play? It’s not tennis. Is it? Is it? I want to play what he’s playing.”

Despite all the fuss, Karen maintained his composure and booked his spot in the next round.

Upon losing the match Kyrgios refused to shake hands with the chair umpire, spat across him and his indiscipline will cost him heavy.