WHIZ KID KEEPS A COOL HEAD
ENIGMATIC Nick Kyrgios yesterday admitted he let the first set slip as “strategy’’ before successfully wrenching back his Brisbane International quarterfinal.
Kyrgios likened himself to a boxer putting his “gloves down’’ in the first set, letting it slide away in 22 minutes before stepping up his effort to subdue Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 1- 6, 6- 3, 6- 4 and become a second Australian into the Pat Rafter Arena semi- finals.
“That’s just me, very unpredictable. But if a boxer puts his gloves down in the boxing ring, I wouldn’t really call it tanking,’’ said Kyrgios, who is one win away from his first ATP final in Australia. “It’s just a strategy and it worked again today.
“I always knew I’d come through. As bad as it is to say, I can kind of turn it on like a tap.’’
Kyrgios coughed up 18 unforced errors to five by his opponent in the first set, having a first- serve accuracy of only 44 per cent and serving consecutive double- faults when he dropped serve to go behind 1- 5. Australia’s world No. 17 located the “tap’’ handle in the second set, putting 70 per cent of first serves into play in it against Dolgopolov, ranked No. 38. SYDNEY teen Alex de Minaur has vowed success won’t change him after blazing a path into the last four at the Brisbane International.
The 18- year- old wildcard secured a semi- final against Ryan Harrison of the US with a commanding 6- 4 6- 0 victory over American qualifier Michael Mmoh yesterday.
Yet to drop a set in the tournament, world No. 208 de Minaur has thrust himself into the spotlight after defeating 44thranked American Steve Johnson in the opening round and knocking No. 4 seed and former champion Milos Raonic out in the second.
“There’s obviously been a lot more attention on me, but it’s not going to change what I do or who I am,” de Minaur said yesterday.
“It’s the same old me, playing the same old sport.
“Just got to keep it casual and that’s what I plan to do.”
De Minaur admitted the opportunity to reach his first ATP World Tour semi- final had sent his nerves soaring early in the match against Mmoh.
But, having fought off three crucial break points in the sixth game, the tension eased.
De Minaur’s superb movement was on display in the next game as he scrambled from the far right side of the court to the far left to retrieve the ball with a deft backhand which forced Mmoh to send his smash reply way long.