Tennis: Nick Kyrgios victorious after bizarre Cincinnati encounter
Thu Aug 16, 2018 08:17:am Sports
4.5K By Obiaks Blog
Nick Kyrgios is through to the third round of the Cincinnati Masters after a chaotic encounter with Borna Coric.
Kyrgios completely lost the plot in the second set when a line call went against him, smashing a ball petulantly into the night sky before chuntering with the crowd as he gave up on the set.
But he then bounced back in the decider, eventually prevailing 7-6 0-6 6-3, to set up a clash with Hyeon Chung or Juan Martin del Potro.
All was relatively serene during a hard-fought first set between two of the best young players on tour - Kyrgios winning the tie-break 7-1.
But Coric went 2-0 up in set two and, when he then had a passing shot called in, an incredulous Kyrgios smashed the ball into the stands - and started ranting about the umpire.
The set continued but Kyrgios made only sporadic effort, informing his team in the stands that he was going to 'tank', and complaining of boredom while Coric was preparing to serve.
At set point, Kyrgos hit a tame return and began walking to his chair before Coric had even finished off the point.
However, Kyrgios then upped his game in set three, producing some brilliantly flamboyant tennis - including power-packed forehands with both feet off the floor - and clinching victory with a service winner.
"I knew I was always going to compete in the third set," said Kyrgios.
"I competed too hard in the first set to sort of just let the match slip and not give myself a chance to win, at least.
"The second set, when I was 4-0 down, I knew there was no real point going out there and competing and obviously waste energy trying to battle back.
"I knew at 4-0, if I lost the set 6-0, I was going to be serving first in the third set. I think I carried a lot of momentum from the first game, and it ended up being a smart move."
Kyrgios made the final in Cincinnati last year, before losing to Grigor Dimitrov.
SKYSPORTS
Kyrgios completely lost the plot in the second set when a line call went against him, smashing a ball petulantly into the night sky before chuntering with the crowd as he gave up on the set.
But he then bounced back in the decider, eventually prevailing 7-6 0-6 6-3, to set up a clash with Hyeon Chung or Juan Martin del Potro.
All was relatively serene during a hard-fought first set between two of the best young players on tour - Kyrgios winning the tie-break 7-1.
But Coric went 2-0 up in set two and, when he then had a passing shot called in, an incredulous Kyrgios smashed the ball into the stands - and started ranting about the umpire.
The set continued but Kyrgios made only sporadic effort, informing his team in the stands that he was going to 'tank', and complaining of boredom while Coric was preparing to serve.
At set point, Kyrgos hit a tame return and began walking to his chair before Coric had even finished off the point.
However, Kyrgios then upped his game in set three, producing some brilliantly flamboyant tennis - including power-packed forehands with both feet off the floor - and clinching victory with a service winner.
"I knew I was always going to compete in the third set," said Kyrgios.
"I competed too hard in the first set to sort of just let the match slip and not give myself a chance to win, at least.
"The second set, when I was 4-0 down, I knew there was no real point going out there and competing and obviously waste energy trying to battle back.
"I knew at 4-0, if I lost the set 6-0, I was going to be serving first in the third set. I think I carried a lot of momentum from the first game, and it ended up being a smart move."
Kyrgios made the final in Cincinnati last year, before losing to Grigor Dimitrov.
SKYSPORTS
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