Australia's Nick Kyrgios, coming off his biggest career final, crashed out of the US Open on Wednesday after hurting his right shoulder in the third set of his opening match.
Kyrgios, the 14th seed who was the highest-ranked obstacle in Roger Federer's path to the quarter-finals, lost to 235th-ranked compatriot John Millman 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.
"I know in the back of my mind Nick's shoulder deteriorated as the match went on," Millman said after his first US Open triumph. "It's a victory but slightly hollow.
"He's a teammate. He's a great guy on and off the court. I feel for him. I really do."
Kyrgios endured an injury-nagged run-up to the US Open, hip pain knocking him out of Wimbledon and Queen's and a sore right shoulder forcing him out at Washington.
But he rolled to the ATP Cincinnati Masters final two weeks ago, falling to Grigor Dimitrov.
The 22-year-old Aussie, known for outspoken remarks and often doubting his desire to play tennis, was in strong form when he grabbed his elbow of his first serve of the fourth game in the third set.
After having a ballboy grab his right arm between games to try and relieve the pain, Kyrgios had treatment by a physiotherapist during a timeout and told him his troubles.
"One serve and arm is totally dead. It's so dead and numb. It's incredibly weak," said Kyrgios. "How can something happen all of a sudden? I wasn't feeling it at all and then Bang, one serve. I lost power in my serve."
Frustration grew as Kyrgios screamed an obscenity while glaring at his right hand after slamming down a racquet following the fifth game.
"My forehand is painful. It's so annoying," Kyrgios told the trainer after a line change.
Kyrgios grimaced during a treatment sessions, saying, "I try hard and then one serve I can feel it. I don't get it. I don't know what to do."
"I'm feeling good. I finally have a good week last week, come to the US Open feeling good, playing a good match against an Aussie, third set and it's throbbing."
After his last available treatment, Kyrgios was broken to drop the set, sending a forehand wide on the decisive point then smashing his racquet on the court.
He was docked a point for that transgression.
Millman, who missed nearly eight months with a hip injury, dominated the final set to send Kyrgios home.
THIEM BREAKS NO SWEAT
Austria's Dominic Thiem, the men's sixth seed, made short work of Australian Alex de Minaur after their first-round match resumed at the US Open on Wednesday.
Thiem, who was two sets and a game up in the third before play was halted on Tuesday, won 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 and will face either American Taylor Fritz or Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the next round.
Thiem, a semfinalist at the past two French Opens, was working to adapt his skill on the Paris red clay to maximum impact on the New York hardcourts.
"I'm pretty pleased with the performance," Thiem said.
"I'm trying to improve my hardcourt game. I cannot play my clay game here. I can't stay close to the baseline."
ARGENTINE MAYER OUSTS FRANCE'S GASQUET
Frenchman Richard Gasquet, seeded 26th, was dumped out of the U.S. Open first round for the second year in succession after being beaten by unseeded Leonardo Mayer 3-6 6-2 6-4 6-2.
The Argentine will face Japan's Yuichi Sugita in the next round.
MENENDEZ-MACEIRAS WINS BATTLE OF THE ROOKIES
Spaniard Adrian Menendez-Maceiras, playing his first U.S. Open, beat fellow rookie Patrick Kypson of the United States 6-4 7-6(9) 6-1 and awaits either Argentine Juan Martin del Potro or Swiss Henri Laaksonen in round two.
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