US Open: Pablo Carreno Busta hilariously gives up mid-point in loss to Karen Khachanov

Pablo Carreno Busta lived up to his name as the Spaniard became highly frustrated, some may say combustible, during his five-set loss to 27th seed Karen Khachanov. 

Facing a 5-1 deficit in the third set, down set point, Carreno Busta serve-and-volleyed before inexplicably quitting on the rally as Khachanov approached the net. 

The Russian tapped the ball over the net to wrap up the set before giving himself a first pump of affirmation. 

Carreno Busta was booed by those inside Louis Armstrong Stadium during the third, with commentator Adam Fielder suggested he bailed on the set completely.

‘He just wants out of this set,’ Fielder said on Channel 9 Australia’s coverage before Busta gifted the final point to Khachanov.

‘The crowd are not loving that from Pablo Carreno Busta – pretty much just tanked the end of that third set there.’

Though it did seem as if Carreno Busta was suffering from an ailment of some kind and called a medical timeout at the end of the humbling set. 

From thereon the contest was hotly contested, in stark contrast to Carreno Busta’s previous energy levels. 

Khachanov ultimately triumphed, as he had in the previous three meetings between the pair.

The win now extends his overall record to six wins and three losses against the Spaniard. 

Khachanov reached the quarter-finals of the US Open for the first time but faces a monumental task to go any further with Nick Kyrgios waiting in the wings. 

Kyrgios defeated Khachanov’s compatriot and world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in four sets on Arthur Ashe Stadium later on Sunday night.