NEW YORK—Nick Kyrgios was upset at the US Open today.
Very upset.
So upset that he managed to earn two code violations on changeovers—one for an audible obscenity, one for racket abuse, the second earning him a point penalty.
So upset that he moped and shrugged around the court and squandered the better part of two sets alternating between go-for-broke forehands and far-too-casual drop shots, many of them off half-volleys, that quickly reminded the dwindling crowd on a temporary iteration of Louis Armstrong Stadium that such shots only charm when they work (at least most of the time); otherwise, and with quickly escalating intensity, they simply seem impetuous, disdainful of a paying crowd.
Before spending any more time on Kyrgios, all due respect to his conqueror, John Millman, a 28-year-old fellow Aussie, who emerged the victor today, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1. Millman, in the main draw here on the strength of a protected ranking, having missed the first four-plus months of the year with a tendon injury in his groin that required surgery, is six years older than Kyrgios, but has already been eclipsed by his junior countryman, seeded 14th here. The elder Aussie just reached the third round of a major for the first time at the Australian Open last year, while Kyrgios has made multiple trips to the second round of Slams, and made his first Masters final at Cincinnati just two weeks ago.