Kyrgios rallies to snatch win
NICK Kyrgios has bounced back from a bout of tantrums and a disastrous second set to eliminate Borna Coric and advance at the Cincinnati Open.
The No.15 seed was pushed to a tie-breaker in the first set but overcame the Croatian 7-1 to strike the early blow in the match.
But it quickly went pearshaped for the temperamental Australian who lost his cool and composure in the second set before surrendering 6-0.
Kyrgios, however, rallied in the third set, delighting the crowd with several shots between his legs on his way to taking the deciding set 6-3, in a match lasting one hour and 47 minutes.
The Australian No.1 will face either South Korea’s Hyeon Chung or Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro for a place in the quarterfinals.
Earlier, Novak Djokovic came from behind to defeat Adrian Mannarino in the second round.
The 10th seed, recovered from losing the opening set as he saw off Frenchman Mannarino 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in two hours and six minutes.
Serbia’s Wimbledon champion will face defending champion Grigor Dimitrov in the third round after the Bulgarian dispatched German Mischa Zverev 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.
In the women’s draw, Ashleigh Barty has continued her fine form on the North American hard courts as she reached the third round with a straight-sets victory over Kaia Kanepi.
Backing up her opening round win over Czech wildcard Marketa Vondrousova, 16th seeded Barty topped Estonian qualifier Kanepi 7-5, 6-3.
Defending US Open champion Sloane Stephens overcame a thumb injury to cruise into round three with a 6-3, 6-2 win over qualifier Tatjana Maria.
Also advancing were 15th-seeded Belgian Elise Mertens, a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) winner over Swedish qualifier Rebecca Peterson, Russian Ekaterina Makarova and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenko.
Makarova routed French qualifier Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-0 while Sabalenka upset ninth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.