Nick Kyrgios continues to amaze. The Australian toppled defending champion Daniil Medvedev 7-6(11), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 tonight in the US Open fourth round.

“It was an amazing match. Obviously, Daniil is the defending champion, a lot of pressure on his shoulders,” said Kyrgios. “But I played really well. I’ve been playing amazing the last couple of months. What a place to do it. Packed house in New York. I’m extremely blessed.”

Early on Kyrgios was leading the way, breaking Medvedev first for 4-2. Medvedev, who was standing much closer to the baseline to return serve, was able to get the break right back. In the breaker, Kyrgios again got ahead 4-1 but Medvedev came right back and got to set point. Kyrgios this time saved three match points with some scintillating tennis.

Kyrgios would quickly drop serve to start the second after a 3-double fault game. And Medvedev would all but cruise to level, though he stumbled a bit at the end.

In the third, momentum switched again, and this time for good. Early on Kyrgios would slip and fall, grimacing in pain but he was ok. He then lost a chance a break point when he ran over to Medvedev’s side of the court to put away an errant skyward shot. That proved illegal and Kyrgios had a good laugh instead of an argument.

Medvedev was cruising on serve when minutes later serving 40-0 he lost his flow and was inexplicably broken.

Kyrgios ran off the set and then pulled away from a visibly rattled Medvedev in the fourth.

“I just thought I played the right way. I returned unbelievable today. Just thought the third and fourth sets were just so free,” Kyrgios said. “I was just having a lot of fun, embracing every moment out on Ashe today. Really proud of that.”

Medvedev was none to happy after the loss, crediting Kyrgios but also revealing he had been sick.

He didn’t miss a lot, it didn’t really surprise me, but I would love him to miss a little bit more,” said Medvedev. “His level was pretty high, that didn’t surprise me.

“He played good. It was really even till the 3rd set. I started to feel worse physically,” Medvedev said. “I felt sick today. I get sick at least once a year during the USA swing cause the air conditioning here is just crazy. Last year it was in Cincinnati, this year here”.”

Kyrgios will now face Karen Khachanov on Tuesday.

Matteo Berrettini had to dig deep for a third straight match pulling another 3-hour plus win to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

“Well, I didn’t start the match the way I wanted to, but into the third set I found the right energy to win,” Berrettini said. “I spent a couple of weeks of training hard before the tournament, so it’s definitely helping me here now.”

The Italian has now made at least the quarterfinals at his last five Grand Slam events. However, he still has never made a final at any hard court event.

“I like to play in these conditions, I love to play here in New York, but it’s changing a lot,” said Berrettini after his third US Open quarter. “Two days ago against Murray it wasn’t humid, so it changed a lot. This morning I was sweating, I was like ‘Wow’. Today had to drink a lot and that’s what I did. I did a couple of weeks training really hard before the tournament, so I was ready, and I guess it paid off.”

Playing in his first Slam since Australia, Berrettini will now face Casper Ruud in a rematch of this summer’s Geneva final won by the Norwegian.

Ruud became the first man from his country to make a US Open quarterfinal after knocking out irritable lucky loser Corentin Moutet 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-4.

“I had a great start and the [two] sets that I won were not showing the real result. It was much tougher,” Ruud told the Ashe crowd. “Corentin is a very tricky player. He has all the shots, runs well. He can produce trick shots and everything. I really needed to stay focused and stay sharp and I was playing really well until I got broke back in the third, which was frustrating.

“He raised his level a bit. But fourth set I was able to break him a couple of times and serve good enough luckily. I didn’t change much but I was able to dictate the game more.”

Ruud has won three of five from the Italian including the Geneva final in July. That was on clay. Berrettini beat Ruud at the 2020 US Open.

Khachanov overcame a fourth set lapse to eliminate 2-time US Open semifinalist Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. The Spaniard conceded the final point of the third set but was ok after a lengthy trainer visit and some pills. Carreno Busta rebounded to snag the fourth.

It was Khachanov’s fourth straight win over Carreno Busta. He’ll get Kyrgios next.

“Nick said he doesn’t recognize himself how professional he is right now,” Khachanov said. “I think the Wimbledon final showed him if he does the things like he does now which kind of level he has, what he’s capable of. Obviously, everybody knows that, the way he’s serving. I think the thing would be the same for me: Focus on the serve, keep the serve. In rallies, we have the same, equal chances. It will be always the question of how the point starts, with the serve and return.”

Tomorrow, Rafael Nadal is back to take on America’s last hope in the men’s draw in Frances Tiafoe. And later Carlos Alcaraz battles former champion Marin Cilic.

Cameron Norrie and Andrey Rublev will battle on Armstrong with Jannik Sinner facing Ilya Ivashka.

MONDAY US OPEN SCHEDULE
Arthur Ashe Stadium, Day Session – 12:00 PM Start
Petra Kvitova (CZE) [21] vs. Jessica Pegula (USA) [8]
Frances Tiafoe (USA) [22] vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP) [2]

7:00 PM Start
Danielle Collins (USA) [19] vs. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [6]
Marin Cilic (CRO) [15] vs. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) [3]

Louis Armstrong Stadium, Day Session – 11:00 AM Start
Cameron Norrie (GBR) [7] vs. Andrey Rublev (RUS) [9]
Iga Swiatek (POL) [1] vs. Jule Niemeier (GER)
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [26] vs. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) [22]
Ilya Ivashka (BLR) vs. Jannik Sinner (ITA) [11]