Kyrgios and Tomljanović winning means Australia has two quarter-finalists at the US Open for the first time this century. Source: US Open Tennis, Twitter.
It was a great night in New York for the Aussies as Nick Kyrgios and Ajla Tomljanović both progressed to the US Open quarter-finals.
Fresh off her big win against Serena Williams in the last round, Tomljanović defeated Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 (10/8), 6-1.
The Australian had only nine winners and 27 unforced errors while her opponent Samsonova committing 56 unforced errors.
The hard-fought first set took 82 minutes with Tomljanović saving eight set points on her serve.
“I think it’s just about staying in the moment cos she played well and I don’t really have time to dwell because the game is going by quickly,” Tomljanović said.
“I’m just trying to stay as calm as long as possible even though inside I’m dying.”
The set went to a tiebreak that looked like it was leaning towards Samsonova.
But Tomljanović held on to seal it 10-8 and won a much easier second set to get the win against the world number 35.
In the men’s draw, her former partner Nick Kyrgios continued his excellent form, taking on the world number one Daniil Medvedev, winning in four sets 7-6 (13-11), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
It was the second time in three weeks Kyrgios defeated Medvedev and he will enter the quarterfinals of the US Open for the first time in his career.
The Wimbledon runner-up is now an impressive 35-9 in 2022.
The match was not without controversy with Kyrgios clashing with the umpire, apparently for starting the shot clock too early.
And at 1-0, 30-30 in the third set when Medvedev sent the ball flying after being unable to control a shot from Kyrgios, the Australian celebrated by sprinting to his opponent’s side of the court and volleying the ball.
Since he struck the ball before it bounced out, it meant Medvedev was awarded the point.
“It’s going to be everywhere on SportsCenter so I’m going to look like an idiot, but that’s alright,” Kyrgios said, smiling.
It ended up being only a blip in a huge victory highlighted by Kyrgios’s impressive serving and returning.
Kyrgios will next face another Russian Karen Khachanov, while Tomljanović will go up against Ons Jabeur next.
