Australia’s Nick Kyrgios on Saturday punched his ticket to the BB&T Atlanta Open final by ending the remarkable run of young upstart Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Playing in humid conditions, second-seeded Kyrgios blasted 16 aces to win the semi-final match over the 20-year-old Japanese rising star in 96 minutes.
Kyrgios advanced to his third ATP Tour final of his career, where he is to face top seed John Isner, who defeated teenage wild card Reilly Opelka 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-2 in the other semi-final.
Photo: AFP
“It was a hot and humid day,” Kyrgios said.
“Yoshi is a great player and makes you play a lot of balls and a lot of rallies. I came out strong [in the third set] and that shows good fighting spirit,” the Australian said.
“It feels good. I knew at the start of the week that I could get this far. It’s not really surprising, but it’s rewarding for sure,” Kyrgios added.
Nishioka, 20, played a strong second set to level before Kyrgios clinched the win in the third set. It was Nishioka’s first semi-final of his career and ended his run of three straight wins in Atlanta.
He upset fourth seed Alexandr Dolgopolov in the second round 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.
“I think I played very well, but he has a great serve,” Nishioka said of Kyrgios.
“He has a great second serve and I didn’t have many chances to break. I couldn’t put pressure on his first serves either,” he added.
In one of the tallest matches in ATP men’s tennis history, 2.08m Isner beat compatriot Opelka, who measures 2.11m.
Isner, 31, has now reached the Atlanta final six times in seven appearances.
“I wish we could play every week in Atlanta,” Isner said. “I think I’d be No. 1 in the world.”
Isner hammered 22 aces while 18-year-old Opelka, who is ranked No. 837 in the world, finished with four double faults and 15 aces.
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