Mind over matter for Kyrgios

NICK Kyrgios grabbed a mental advantage for next month’s Davis Cup semi-final with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Belgian No.1 David Goffin in their ATP Cincinnati first-round match yesterday.

Ninth seed Goffin needed a medical timeout for a knee injury, which clouds his chances to contest the US Open and spearhead his country’s September 15-17 home semi-final against Australia.

Kyrgios was detained for only 66 minutes in making the second round, an express route he appreciated as he has been affected by a hip injury at times over the past three months.

“He obviously wasn’t at 100 per cent today, but I’m not at 100 per cent either so it was a bit of a battle,’’ world No.23 Kyrgios said in Cincinnati, the last stop for most of the top men before the US Open.

“But I served well at crucial moments. I’m feeling OK, I think as long as I can keep putting in performances like these.’’

Kyrgios, who was to play qualifier Alexandr Dolgopolov in the second round, is needed by Australia to supply two singles wins against Belgium.

Australian No.2 Jordan Thompson, ranked No.79, has won only one of his four ATP level matches since his ambush of Andy Murray in England and last week lost at a US Challenger to the improving Queenslander Akira Santillan.

Australia are $3.50 second favourites to win the Davis Cup, behind France ($2).

Ipswich qualifier Ash Barty closed out a first-round win in Cincinnati yesterday, 6-4, 6-4 over the more experienced American Varvara Lepchenko.