Nick Kyrgios survives early scare from Polish underdog Kamil Majchrzak to advance to Japan Open quarter final as Australian star delights in ‘lights out’ performance
- Nick Kyrgios survived an early scare to advance to the Japan Open quarter finals
- The Australian lost the first set of his last-16 clash against Kamil Majchrzak
- However, he rallied and played ‘lights out’ tennis to storm to victory
Nick Kyrgios has stormed home to book his ticket in the Japan Open quarter-finals with a three-set win over Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak.
The Australian fifth seed scored a 3-6 6-2 6-2 triumph in 81 minutes on Thursday to set up a last-eight clash with either local Hiroki Moriya or American Taylor Fritz in Tokyo.
Kyrgios, who reached the Wimbledon final and US Open quarters earlier this year, was frustrated to get broken in the third game of the match but rebounded after going on to lose the opening set 6-3.
Nick Kyrgios has advanced to the quarter finals of the Japan Open with a three-set victory
The world No.20 levelled at a set apiece in just under an hour, breaking twice in the sixth and eighth games.
And along with his 22 aces, the Canberran broke two more times to finish off the 121st-ranked Pole.
‘Losing the first set, there was never really a doubt in my mind that I was going to win the match,’ Kyrgios said after notching up his 37th match win of the season.
‘I just had to get back to doing what I do well — that’s playing quick and aggressive tennis.
‘I’ve got really good confidence in my game right now, so I don’t really doubt myself even when I’m down a set.
The Australian suffered an early scare after losing the first set against Kamil Majchrzak
‘I think playing and going far in grand slams has given me that confidence that even if I lose a set I’m still able to maintain and increase my level in the match.
‘I just started playing the right way the second and third, try to play more aggressive … stop trying to rally and just try to hit winners from everywhere. Towards the end I played lights out.’
The fifth seed won 84 per cent (36 out of 43) of points behind his dominant first serve.
To complete a good day, Kyrgios later teamed up with Thanasi Kokkinakis as the top-seeded ‘Special Ks’ beat Spanish duo Pedro Martinez and Bernabe Zapata Miralles 7-5 6-4 to reach the doubles semi-finals.
However, he played ‘lights out’ tennis to storm home and book his place in the final eight
Earlier in the day in singles action, fourth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe was a 6-1 7-6 (9-7) winner over Miralles and eighth seed Daniel Evans was beaten 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-4) by Miomir Kecmanovic.
The British No.2 blew six match points and was made to pay with the Serb winning the final four points of the third-set tiebreaker.
‘I was completely tuned out of the match and I just went for it in that moment,’ said Kecmanovic, whio’s ranked eight places below Evans at 33.
‘I had a lot of ups and downs, especially in the third set, being up 4-1. Somehow I managed to stay in, and thankfully I’m still here.’
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