Nick Kyrgios rides 2 tiebreaks to Citi Open men's title
For the past several years, Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has danced in and out of that conversation as arguably the most talented player in the sport’s much-ballyhooed next generation — yet, sadly, perhaps also its most erratic.
At 24, the 6-foot-4, 187-pound Kyrgios boasts a serve that’s close to unreturnable, eye-popping athleticism and a wild repertoire of shots from the sublime to the circuslike. He also has an on-court demeanor that can turn on a dime — from tantrum-throwing toddler, to bored teen who can’t be bothered, to world-class showman or, when he chooses, to ungodly gifted player who leaves opponents flat-footed and shaking their heads in awe.
When the opening set ended, he was flat on the ground, getting treatment from a trainer. Eventually, after 1½ hours of play, Kyrgios was wincing in pain -- because he was lifting the champion's trophy at the hard-court tournament.
Kyrgios overcame a bothersome back and used two of his 18 aces to close things out, edging No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) to win his second title of the year and move his ranking back into the top 30.
"This has honestly been one of my favorite weeks of my life, to be honest. I've made massive strides," said Kyrgios, who warmed up for matches by taking on kids in pingpong in the players' lounge. "A week to remember."
We all know how Nick can play when he wants to, and this week, I think he wanted to play,” said the 23-year-old Medvedev, who served exceptionally well, competed fiercely and won 71 points to Kyrgios’s 72. “It was tough.”
Medvedev was the second top-10 player Kyrgios beat in as many days. In Saturday’s semifinal, he ousted sixth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas, the tournament’s top seed (as well as Kyrgios’s first-time doubles partner earlier in the week), despite destroying a clutch of rackets amid bouts of rage and frustration.
In the second, Kyrgios fell behind only once, at 3-2, but used a combination of three aces, a 140 mph service winner and a flubbed forehand by Medvedev to end things. On match point, Kyrgios revived a bit he's been doing this week, going to "consult" a spectator before uncorking a serve. After huddling with a woman in the front row Sunday, he hit a 118 mph ace, then dropped his racket and fell on his back.
At 24, the 6-foot-4, 187-pound Kyrgios boasts a serve that’s close to unreturnable, eye-popping athleticism and a wild repertoire of shots from the sublime to the circuslike. He also has an on-court demeanor that can turn on a dime — from tantrum-throwing toddler, to bored teen who can’t be bothered, to world-class showman or, when he chooses, to ungodly gifted player who leaves opponents flat-footed and shaking their heads in awe.
When the opening set ended, he was flat on the ground, getting treatment from a trainer. Eventually, after 1½ hours of play, Kyrgios was wincing in pain -- because he was lifting the champion's trophy at the hard-court tournament.
Kyrgios overcame a bothersome back and used two of his 18 aces to close things out, edging No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) to win his second title of the year and move his ranking back into the top 30.
"This has honestly been one of my favorite weeks of my life, to be honest. I've made massive strides," said Kyrgios, who warmed up for matches by taking on kids in pingpong in the players' lounge. "A week to remember."
We all know how Nick can play when he wants to, and this week, I think he wanted to play,” said the 23-year-old Medvedev, who served exceptionally well, competed fiercely and won 71 points to Kyrgios’s 72. “It was tough.”
Medvedev was the second top-10 player Kyrgios beat in as many days. In Saturday’s semifinal, he ousted sixth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas, the tournament’s top seed (as well as Kyrgios’s first-time doubles partner earlier in the week), despite destroying a clutch of rackets amid bouts of rage and frustration.
In the second, Kyrgios fell behind only once, at 3-2, but used a combination of three aces, a 140 mph service winner and a flubbed forehand by Medvedev to end things. On match point, Kyrgios revived a bit he's been doing this week, going to "consult" a spectator before uncorking a serve. After huddling with a woman in the front row Sunday, he hit a 118 mph ace, then dropped his racket and fell on his back.
Comments
Post a Comment