Nick Kyrgios survives six match points to overcome Frances Tiafoe at Citi Open

06.08.2022 - 11:47 thenationalnews.com

Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios fought off six match points during a second-set tiebreaker against hometown favourite Frances Tiafoe, then raced past him in the third set to win 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 at the Citi Open on Friday night.

In the first meeting between the players, Kyrgios allowed the first set to slip away with some mental lapses, then frustrated Tiafoe during the lengthy second-set tiebreak, which concluded with the Maryland native slamming his racket onto the court and kicking it. “Frances put himself in every position to win the match.

You know, in those moments I wasn’t really thinking too much. I was just trying to stay in the match and I survived,” Kyrgios said “Then, you know, I felt like physically I was really fresh in the third set and served well.” The hard-court US Open tuneup in Washington is the first tournament for Kyrgios since he lost in four sets to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.

The mercurial Australian improved his match record this year to 21-7 and advanced to his fifth semi-final, where he will face Mikael Ymer, a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 winner over Sebastian Korda.

Sporting Rafael Nadal Nick Kyrgios Carlos Alcaraz Sebastian Korda Maxime Cressy Mikael Ymer France Usa Australia Washington Washington state Maryland

Nick Kyrgios has been handed a heart-pulling first-round encounter at the US Open, drawn against his great friend Thanasi Kokkinakis in an all-Australian blockbuster. And in a Flushing Meadows men’s field without Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal will open his bid for a 23rd grand slam title against Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata when the main draw kicks off next week.

Nick Kyrgios overcomes tricky Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Cincinnati opener

The Australian marched through with 29 winners - including 10 aces - and three breaks of the Spaniard's serve to reach the second round. The 28th-ranked Kyrgios has won all 11 of his first-round matches this season and won his 22nd match since returning to the ATP in June after skipping the clay season. He now faces good friend Taylor Fritz after the American crushed Sebastian Baez 6-1, 6-1. "Physically, I didn't feel the best, but you have to keep pushing, keep trying," Kyrgios said. "Alejandro's a hell of a player, he's got a lot of shots at his disposal. I had to serve well and dictate," the Montreal quarter-finalist aded. "It was tricky conditions out there, the courts are a lot more lively than Montreal, it was harder to control the ball."

Nick Kyrgios defeats Sebastián Báez in two sets following Citi Open victory

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Montreal Masters: Nick Kyrgios Lifts Mental Game For Seventh Straight Win, Andy Murray Out

Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios let an early lead slip but regrouped on Tuesday for a 6-4, 6-4 first-round victory over Sebastian Baez at the ATP Montreal Masters. World number 37 Kyrgios, a title winner last week in Washington, next faces world number one Daniil Medvedev, who won last week's Los Cabos crown. "It will be a great test and a lot of fun," Kyrgios said. "He's a hell of a player. He's unorthodox -- an animal."