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Enjoying a superb run of form, Kyrgios suffered his first loss
since falling to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.
The 27-year-old's run included a title at the Citi Open, before
he ran into Hurkacz, who improved his record to 2-0 against the
Australian, following a three-sets win earlier this year in the
Halle semi-finals.
"Nick has been playing really unbelievable throughout the past
few months," said Hurkacz. "Battling against him, it's very
challenging, but it's also fun.
"He can make every single shot. He doesn't really have that many
weaknesses, if any. I was just trying to serve good and stay
aggressive."
Hurkacz will next face Norwegian fourth seed Caper Ruud, who
strolled into the last four by sweeping aside sixth-seeded
hometown favourite Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1 6-2.
Kyrgios shrugged off the end of his winning streak, saying in
his usual blunt fashion that he could not care less and was more
interested in getting home after the U.S. Open to see his mother
and father, who are not well.
"I honestly don't care," said the Australian, adding that he
would head to Cincinnati as soon as possible, where he will
continue his build-up to the U.S. Open. "I've been away from
home, away from my mum, away from my dad.
"They're not very well at the moment. So I don't really care
about 'no winning streak'. I've got two more tournaments left
before I can go home," he said, referring to Cincinnati and the
U.S. Open.
BIG SERVERS
The two big servers pounded away at each other on Centre Court
with Hurkacz blasting 20 aces and Kyrgios hitting back with 19
in a contest that produced two breaks, both going to the Pole in
the final set.
What had been a tight contest suddenly turned in the third when
Hurkacz, helped by a pair of Kyrgios double faults, secured the
first break.
With the help of yet another Kyrgios double-fault Hurkacz broke
the Australian again to go 5-1 up and held serve to book his
place in the last four.
Flag-waving Canadian fans later filled centre court in the hope
of watching Auger-Aliassime make it to the weekend.
He got off to a positive start by breaking Ruud at the first
opportunity, but it was all disappointment from there as the
misfiring Quebec native committed far more unforced errors.
"It was one of those days where everything goes in one
(person's) favour and luckily it was in my favour," said Ruud.
"I am sure Felix has played better than he has today.
"It is a pity because he is playing at home. Maybe that was a
factor. You could be nervous, but I am not going to talk for
Felix."
Briton Dan Evans also advanced to the semi-finals, coming back
from a set down to hand American Tommy Paul a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss
to set up a last-four meeting with Pablo Carrena Busta.
The Spaniard won 7-6(4), 6-1 against British qualifier Jack
Draper to book his place in the next round.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto and Michael Church in
Hong Kong; Editing by Ken Ferris and William Mallard)
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