Nick Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist, departs from Miami on a high note, despite a defeat in the second round to Karen Khachanov. This marks his first Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) victory since October 2022, signaling a potential return to form for the Australian tennis star.
Kyrgios put up a strong fight in the initial set against Khachanov, but his energy dwindled, leading him to eventually bow out of the game. The match, which lasted for 76 minutes, resulted in a 7-6, 6-0 victory for Khachanov. The Russian managed to keep his cool and demonstrated his prowess by bageling Kyrgios in the second set, securing a spot in the top 32.
In the first round, Kyrgios showcased commendable performance against Mackenzie McDonald. His stint against Khachanov, however, was a roller-coaster ride. He managed to sail through two tough games in the opening set only to lose the tie-break. By the second set, his stamina was visibly depleted, and he could only muster seven points before making his exit.
Khachanov’s performance was noteworthy. He served at an impressive 75% and lost only 11 points in his games. He successfully defended two break points in the sixth game of the first set, keeping Kyrgios on his toes. Despite facing three break points in the opening set, Kyrgios fought tooth and nail before eventually losing his grip in the second set.
Kyrgios’ statistics from the match show a mixed bag: 18 service winners, 22 direct points, and 30 unforced errors. Khachanov, on the other hand, had 27 unreturned serves and balanced his game well with 16 winners and 12 mistakes. The Russian clearly had the upper hand in the shortest, mid-range, and the most advanced rallies.
The opening five games saw a good display of service from both players. Kyrgios had an opportunity to seize a break at 3-2. He landed a forehand winner and generated two break chances. However, Khachanov managed to save himself with winners and maintained his positive momentum throughout.
Kyrgios was tested further in the seventh game, where he saved a break point with a service winner. He faced another challenge at 5-5 but managed to deny two break points and held on until the tie-break. Despite leading 2-0 initially, he missed a routine forehand in the fourth point. He fell behind after committing another forehand error and was 5-2 down after Khachanov’s service winner. Kyrgios sent a backhand long and faced four set points. Khachanov clinched the opening set 7-6 in 56 minutes with a service winner on the second set point.
The second set, however, was a different story. Kyrgios seemed to have run out of steam. An ill-judged drop shot in the second game cost him the serve. Khachanov capitalized on this and secured his lead with a service winner in the third game, pushing further on the return in the following game. A double fault from Kyrgios led to him trailing 4-0. Serving to stay in the match at 0-5, Kyrgios hit a forehand long, losing serve for the third consecutive time and thereby making his exit.
In conclusion, despite a valiant effort from Kyrgios, Khachanov took the match with his steady performance and strategic gameplay. As Kyrgios exits Miami, it is clear that his journey towards regaining his top form continues.
