Kyrgios the giant killer Dimitrov conquest sets Aussie No 1 up for Open charge

A LASER-FOCUSSED Nick Kyrgios yesterday welcomed world No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov to his top-10 victims club and moved aggressively into his first ATP tournament final in Australia.

Kyrgios attacked brilliantly to secure his first win over Dimitrov, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in a Brisbane International semifinal which augured well for the Australian’s prospects of at least reaching the second week at the Australian Open for the first time in three years.

Kyrgios will play American Ryan Harrison, ranked No. 47, in tonight’s final at Pat Rafter Arena, and look to enter a tournament champions list including his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt (2014).

Impressively, Kyrgios also owns one career win or more over Grand Slam winners or current top-10 players including Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Alex Zverev and David Goffin, quipping that it was easier for him to find motivation against better ranked opponents.

Defending Brisbane champion Dimitrov, equal third favourite for the Australian Open behind only betting markets favourite Federer and Nadal, had a 2-0 win-loss record previously against Kyrgios, the world No. 21.

“For me, it’s the matches on the back-courts, playing guys not ranked so great that are the ones that are harder to get up for,’’ said Kyrgios, who has fought his focus issues on tour on a day-to-day basis.

“To play guys like Roger at centre court at Miami like we did, that was one of the best matches.’’

On the first ATP semi-final day in Australia in 18 years with two Australian contestants, 18-year-old wildcard Alex de Minaur came within two points of winning his match against Harrison before having to accept an impressive loss, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Kyrgios has taken out both his two career matches against Harrison in straight sets and will start a hot favourite to finish his one Australian Open tune-up tournament on a winning note.

The Australian No. 1 won eight of the 12 points in which he came to net and lashed seven aces in a second set in which he broke Dimitrov’s serve twice. Dimitrov struggled with his serve, as he did previously at Rafter Arena.