Kyrgios serves up a Wimbledon warning
NICK Kyrgios is shaping strongly for Wimbledon after sending down 30 aces in a 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-4) loss to Hubert Hurkacz in a dramatic Halle grass-court semifinal.
The Australian wildcard, who has excelled on the surface over the past fortnight and backed up last weekend’s Stuttgart semi-final, was unable to beat the Pole who defeated Roger Federer last year at Wimbledon.
Fifth seed Hurkacz produced 27 aces of his own in a match of more than two hours during which neither man was able to seize any momentum.
Wimbledon semi-finalist Hurkacz, who is ranked 12th to Kyrgios’s 65th, was aiming for his first grass-court title overnight when he played Daniil Medvedev.
The world No.1 dashed the dreams of Germany’s Oscar Otte winning a title on home soil when he triumphed 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
Kyrgios was in good spirits after going down to Hurkacz, whose massive serve rivals his own.
“He’s a hell of a player,” Kyrgios said.
“His serve is incredible. I honestly didn’t feel like I was getting any sort of read on it.
“I was playing well in the last two sets, but I played a shocking tiebreak in the second
set. It is what it is, I’m happy with my form this week.”
Kyrgios will play again next week in Mallorca in a final grass-court tune-up before Wimbledon, which starts on June 26.
“I might use it as a down week, so I’m not gonna worry
too much about the result,’’ he said. “But now that I say that, when I get there I will obviously want to continue my form.”
Kyrgios is also pumped for Wimbledon, even if the fortnight will not offer ranking points due to the political standoff between the ATP and the All England Club after the ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors.
“I want to try and pick up as many points as I can (before Wimbledon),” Kyrgios said.
“I still want to do well at Wimbledon, but with no ranking points you don’t feel the pressure as much.”
Medvedev needed 65 minutes to win the opening set
against Otte, and was helped when his opponent doublefaulted on a set point.
He sealed victory on his first match point after 96 minutes, when he sent down his eighth ace.
“It was hot (32 Celsius/89.6 Fahrenheit), tough conditions,” Medvedev said. “Reaching the final is not everything.
“I want to show my best tennis and win the title.”
“I’m happy that I managed to raise my level this year on grass. I love playing on grass.”
Medvedev is seeking his first trophy since ending Novak Djokovic’s chances of a calendar grand slam last September with victory in the US Open final.