An incredible Nick Kyrgios brainfade where he appeared to not know a rule has cost him a crucial point in the US Open fourth-round blockbuster against Daniil Medvedev.
The moment occurred in Medvedev’s first service game in the third set with the match tied at one set apiece after an incredible contest filled with Kyrgios antics and the Russian even threatening to quit at one point.
As a Medvedev shot looped into air and was not going to reach the net, Kyrgios incredibly crossed on to the world No.1’s side of the court and swatted the ball into court, before celebrating toward his players box.
well this was… odd pic.twitter.com/zl94yPmGwL
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 5, 2022
All Kyrgios needed to do was literally nothing, to win the point and get a break point on Medvedev’s serve.
But tennis laws stipulate that you cannot cross on to the opponent’s side of the court during the play.
Medvedev was awarded the point and ended up holding serve to make it 1-1 on the third set.
During the next change of ends, Kyrgios asked courtside commentator Patrick McEnroe why he wasn’t allowed to cross the court and hit the winner.
Kyrgios was also heard telling his team that he thought the shot was ‘legal’.
The brainfade ultimately didn’t cost Kyrgios who broke Medvedev in his next service game and went on to win the third set 6-3.
Every time you think you know how Nick Kyrgios is going to act, he does the unexpected. No negativity after a gaffe on such a huge point. Next return game gets the break anyway. Really just so wild
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) September 5, 2022
i love that Kyrgios hit that ball. he is protesting the system that insists there’s a right and wrong way to win a point. he is risking his own score to reveal the absurdity of the system.
— mitchell atencio (@mitchellatencio) September 5, 2022
Love Kyrgios combining absolutely beautiful play with just hilarious, self-sabotaging bullshit. It’s like The Replacements, but a tennis player.
— Jordan Weissmann (@JHWeissmann) September 5, 2022
Kyrgios to Patrick McEnroe (sitting courtside): “I thought it was legal!”
Just learn the rules, kids. It’s that easy.
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) September 5, 2022
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