Nick Kyrgios will leave Miami with positive vibes. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist notched his first ATP win since October 2022 before falling to Karen Khachanov in the second round. The Aussie fought well in the opener before fading from the court.
Karen grabbed a 7-6, 6-0 triumph in an hour and 16 minutes, prevailing in the opener and bageling his opponent in no time in set number two for a place in the last 32. Kyrgios played well against Mackenzie McDonald in the first round.
He survived two challenging games in the opening set against Karen before losing the tie break. The Aussie had nothing more left in the tank, collecting seven points in set number two and hitting the exit door.
Depois de set extremamente equilibrado, Kyrgios leva pneu e cai na segunda rodada do Masters 1000 de Miami para Khachanov.
Australiano segue sem vencer duas seguidas desde outubro de 2022.#TenisNaESPN
— Marcela Linhares (@ma__linharess) March 21, 2025
Khachanov served at 75% and dropped 11 points in his games. The Russian saved two break points in the sixth game of the opening set and kept the pressure on the other side. The Aussie defended three break points in the opener before fading from the court in set number two.
Nick landed 18 service winners and produced 22 direct points and 30 unforced errors. Khachanov counted 27 unreturned serves and tamed his strokes nicely with 16 winners and 12 mistakes. Karen had the upper hand in the shortest, mid-range and the most advanced rallies.
Karen Khachanov, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
They served well in the opening five games, and Kyrgios had a chance to grab a break at 3-2. The Aussie landed a forehand winner and generated two break chances. Khachanov saved them with winners and remained on the positive side.
Nick saved a break point in game seven with a service winner and faced another test at 5-5. The Aussie denied two break points and survived until the tie break. Kyrgios led 2-0 before missing a routine forehand in the fourth point.
He sprayed another forehand error to fall behind and found himself 5-2 down after Karen’s service winner. Kyrgios sent a backhand long and faced four set points. Karen landed a service winner on the second, clinching the opener 7-6 in 56 minutes.
Karen Khachanov & Nick Kyrgios, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Nick had nothing more left in the tank. He played a terrible drop shot in the second game to drop serve. Khachanov cemented the lead with a service winner in game three and made another push on the return in the next one.
The Aussie hit a double fault and fell 4-0 behind. Kyrgios served to stay in the match at 0-5 and placed a forehand long, losing serve for the third straight time and hitting the exit door.
Tennis World USA