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US Open: Young guns Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios suffer shocking exits

Borna Coric beats Zverev in round two, while John Millman sends Kyrgios packing in the opening round.

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Alexandev Zverev (L) and Nick Kyrgios during the 2017 US Open in New York
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Fourth seed Alexander Zverev had his bid for a maiden grand slam title come to a crushing end on Wednesday when Borna Coric rallied for a 3-6 7-5 7-6(1) 7-6 (4) victory in the second round of the US Open.

The two 20-year-olds may be part of tennis's next generation but the German and Croat have gone toe-to-toe on court since they were youngsters. The clash was not even the first time the two have met at Flushing Meadows with Coric beating Zverev in the US Open junior boys semi-finals on the way to winning the title in 2013.

As professionals Zverev and Coric have met once, where the Croat came out on top with a three-set victory in the opening round at Cincinnati in 2015. Despite crossing paths over the years Zverev insisted that the two players do not have a history -- yet.

"We played two times (as professional), so... I don't know, is that a history?" said Zverev. "I think Rafa (Nadal) and Roger (Federer) have a history. Or Novak (Djokovic) and those guys have a history. I don't think we have a history."

If they do not have history Zverev and Coric most certainly have a burgeoning rivalry. "It's that NextGen thing, you know, what ATP is promoting," said Coric. "I don't see it as a big rivalry. I think we all have our paths, our careers. We need to go in our way."

Zverev, winner of five titles this season including a warm-up tournament in Montreal where he defeated Roger Federer in the final, looked poised to settle the score when he grabbed the opening set. But the 61st-ranked Coric battled back to win three close sets, the last two in tie-breaks, to leave the German swinging his racquet in frustration.

"It's upsetting. The way I played was upsetting," said Zverev. "The tournament so far is upsetting for me."

Zverev's frustration was grounded in the fact he missed an opportunity to go deep onto the tournament with Andy Murray out with injury and world number one Nadal and five-time US Open champion Federer both in the top half of the draw.

"I know that I could have done some big things here. I know that I could have done something that I haven't done before," Zverev said. "I was the highest-ranked player in the bottom half of the draw after Andy retired. The draw is pretty open in the bottom part. I felt like I should have been the favoured there. I just played a very, very bad match, so it's unfortunate. But that's how it is."

Kyrgios bows out

Playing basketball, eating ice creams and drinking milk shakes during tennis tournaments. Nick Kyrgios admitted he had not been dedicated in his rollercoaster of a career after being dumped out of the US Open in the first round on Tuesday.

The mercurial 22-year-old, one of the most gifted players on the tour, lost 6-3 1-6 6-4 6-1 against fellow Australian John Millman after hurting his right shoulder. The 14th seed had treatment at the beginning of the third set after levelling at 1-1, but Kyrgios gradually appeared to lose interest in the match.

The 22-year-old received a warning for allegedly cursing and broke his racket as he produced a string of unforced errors at Louis Armstrong Stadium in front of his coach, Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.

"I'm not good enough for him. You know, he's very dedicated. He's an unbelievable coach," Kyrgios told a news conference that turned into a self-battering session. "He probably deserves a player that is probably more dedicated to the game than I am. He deserves a better athlete than me."

Although he said he was focused on the US Open, Kyrgios said he had not always been dedicated, citing his behaviour at the Cincinnati Open, where he reached the final.

"I was probably less dedicated than I was this week. I was playing basketball at Lifetime Fitness every day for two hours. Like I played an hour of basketball before I played David Ferrer in the semi-final," he said. "I was going to ice cream, like this Graeter's place getting a milk shake every day. I was less dedicated."

Kyrgios added he did not know if he would continue with Grosjean, explaining he was not a player who could be trusted. " I keep letting people down," he said. "I'm not dedicated to the game at all. There are players out there that are more dedicated, that want to get better, that strive to get better every day, the one-percenters. I'm not that guy."

Nothing that really depresses Kyrgios, though. "It's not the end of the world. I will get over it in probably half an hour. I will get food and watch the matches. It is what it is," he said.

There is one thing, however, that Kyrgios manages to get seriously involved in: the Davis Cup. "I have put a lot of effort into Davis Cup this year. I obviously made myself available for every tie," he said. "You know, really bought in, really gave everything, we are doing so well. It is my goal to win the Davis Cup, so we'll see."

Australia take on Belgium in Brussels form September 15-17. "Well, I've got time up my sleeve now," said Kyrgios.

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