Nick Kyrgios ‘devastated’ after quarterfinal defeat to Karen Khachanov as he destroys two rackets on court
Australian Open semi-finalist Tommy Robredo had served to win at 3-3, but was broken at the fourth game
Serena Williams looked on in tears as she left court after suffering defeat in the first round
“You know how many times he’s had his break already?” he said
The world number one also called the 24-year-old’s performance ‘amazing’
AUSTRALIA’S greatest grand slam has begun, with Australian Open champion Tommy Robredo taking a four-set lead over Russian qualifier Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals after a thriller of an opening game.
The world number two, who began the day with a chance to advance to his first grand slam semi-final since the 2014 French Open, got off to a winning start when an errant backhand from the Russian, who had already lost all four of his previous matches on clay, gave him the break in the first game.
Tournament favourite and top seed Roger Federer saw his lead rise further from two sets down to 6-3 in the second as he beat Australian qualifier Daniel Brands 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
World number one Novak Djokovic, second in the world rankings, had to withstand a scare at the hands of American qualifier Sam Querrey, who beat him in the second round at the Brisbane International.
The Serb, seeded third, defeated American James Blake 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4 in a battle of giants to reach the last eight.
And while Britain’s Kyle Edmund had to fight against a two-man challenge to advance from a third match, Briton and world number 71 Ben Curtis made light work of American Ryan Harrison to reach the last 16.
The 22-year-old Englishman, who beat Rob
