Path clear for Kyrgios
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 NICK Kyrgios’s US Open stocks have soared with tennis’s most divisive figure free to play on without fear of being thrown out of the season’s final major.
While officials remain tightlipped, it is understood the ATP will let the major pass before deciding Kyrgios’s fate after his “double standards” attack on the governing body. With the threat of suspension, for now, no longer hovering over him, Kyrgios may never get a better chance to reach his maiden grand slam semi-final.
Largely lost in his latest brush with trouble was the carnage unfolding elsewhere at Flushing Meadows that has left the Australian No.1 as the third highest-ranked player remaining in his quarter.
But French 13th seed Gael Monfils and Italian 24th seed Matteo Berrettinni are hardly names to send shudders through Kyrgios as he attempts to finally come good on his grand slam potential.
The 24-year-old hasn’t made the last eight of a major since the second of two as a teenager almost five years ago.
Kyrgios knows the door is ajar, even if he says he doesn’t care about the early exits of top-10 trio Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roberto Bautista Agut from his section.
“Everyone in a grand slam can play a decent level of tennis, so regardless of who I play I know I can beat anyone on the other side of the net,” he said before his scheduled second-round clash today with French qualifier Antoine Hoang, who Kyrgios admits to knowing little about.
“I know he’s a young guy, he’s been playing well,” he said.
“Nothing will change my end.
“I’m going to go out, I’m going to serve big and play big and see how it goes.”
Kyrgios was among five Australians to venture to the second round of the men’s singles this year and among four set for day four action.
Kyrgios is pleased for his former Australian Open-winning doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis, whose win over Ilya Ivashka was his first at a slam since the 2015 French Open. “Obviously Thanasi’s massive,” Kyrgios said.
“As soon as I saw the result, I was so happy for him.”