In a disappointing match at the Miami Open, Nick Kyrgios succumbed to Karen Khachanov, suffering a defeat of 7-6 (7-3), 6-0. Kyrgios, who managed a first-round victory just days prior against Mackenzie Macdonald — marking his first tour-level win in over two years due to a wrist injury — exhibited a stark contrast in performance between the two sets.
The first set was competitive and lasted about an hour, during which Kyrgios proved challenging for the 22nd seed, Khachanov. A pivotal moment came when Kyrgios failed to secure a lead in the tiebreak after an errant forehand, which appeared to shift his mentality significantly. This moment of frustration seemed to weigh on him, causing a decline in his game.
As the second set unfolded, Kyrgios’s frustrations boiled over. He won merely seven points and struggled with unforced errors, which squandered any chance of a resurgence. His irritation became apparent as he grumbled to himself, expressed discontent towards his team, and showed signs of discomfort with a shoulder issue. The situation worsened; he smashed a ball out of the court, receiving a warning from the umpire, and, at match point, he registered his 30th unforced error with a long forehand that sealed his fate in the second set, which lasted a mere 21 minutes.
Khachanov advanced to the last-32, where he will face Grigor Dimitrov. Additionally, another Australian contender, Tristan Schoolkate, faced elimination at the hands of Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, losing 6-4, 6-4.