Kyrgios beats Nishioka for first ATP title in three years

Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios won his seventh ATP title and first in three years by defeating Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka in Sunday's men's final at the ATP and WTA Washington Open.

The 27-year-old Australian downed 96th-ranked left-hander Nishioka 6-4, 6-3 for his first ATP title since capturing the 2019 Washington crown.

"It's emotional for me to be back here again and claim another title," Kyrgios said.

Kyrgios, who lost to Novak Djokovic last month in his first Grand Slam final, made back-to-back tour-level finals for the first time in his career and didn't allow a service break all week.

"It's just very emotional for me to see where I was at last year to now. It's just an incredible transformation," Kyrgios said. "I've been in some really dark places.

"There are so many people who have helped me get there but myself, I've shown some serious strength to just continue and just persevere and get through all those times and be able to still perform and win tournaments like this one."

Title number 7 ??Massive stuff from @NickKyrgios this week!#CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/mFl8F8tT8X

World number 63 Kyrgios fired 12 aces and 32 winners against four double faults and 20 unforced errors while taking 22 of 25 first-serve points to defeat Nishioka in 81 minutes.

"I came out with great energy," Kyrgios said. "I knew I had experience on my side. I'm really happy with myself."

Kyrgios improved to 4-0 against Nishioka, the most recent prior win coming in the third round of his 2019 Washington title run.

In the women's final, Liudmila Samsonova won her second career WTA title by beating Estonia's Kaia Kanepi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Her first title came at last year's German Open on Berlin grass.

"It's like a dream," Samsonova said. "It's unbelievable."