Kyrgios and Nakashima post wins, Isner advances at Truist Atlanta Open
ATLANTA: Former champion Nick Kyrgios made a successful return to the Truist Atlanta Open on Tuesday night ater fighting past Kevin Anderson 7-6(4), 6-3 to move into the second round.
Kyrgios didn’t face a break point as he aced his way through a tense meeting between two big servers.
He won 86 per cent (36/42) of points behind his first serve, and fired 15 aces en route to victory.
The Aussie will next face third seed Cameron Norrie, who arrives in Atlanta ater claiming his first ATP Tour title in Los Cabos.
The only break of serve came late in the match, as Kyrgios pounced on a loose Anderson service game at 4-4.
The South African gave Kyrgios too many looks at second serves, and the 2016 champion gleefully teed off to claim the decisive break.
At match point, Kyrgios walked over to a fan in the crowd and, ater a brief conversation, returned to the baseline. He fired a big first serve out wide that went unreturned, sealing the victory ater an hour and 23 minutes. Brandon Nakashima also claimed a late win, needing two hours 25 minutes to takedown local wild card Trent Bryde 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4. The 19-year-old American, who posted his first tour-level final appearance in Los Cabos, cruised through the opening set but found himself having to fight back as the University of Georgia student raised his level.
Nakashima held his nerve against Bryde as well as the vocal crowd – including the university’s band – were firmly supporting the home favourite.
The 19-year-old fired 10 aces and broke serve four times to set up a second-round meeting with top seed Milos Raonic.
Five-time Truist Atlanta Open champion John Isner made a good start towards a sixth trophy at the ATP 250 behind a 36-ace barrage.
The 36-year-old American eliminated countryman JJ Wolf 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 to reach the second round ater two hours and eight minutes.
Wolf, who is playing just his second tournament of the season, returned impressively in the secondset tie-break to force Isner into a deciding set.
But the sixth seed won 81 per cent of his service points and saved the only break point he faced in the match to set a clash against countryman Jack Sock or Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis.
Another seeded American, fith seed Taylor Fritz, beat Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy 6-3, 6-4. Fritz saved the only break point he faced and converted his two opportunities to earn a showdown against countryman Steve Johnson, who defeated Aussie Alexei Popyrin on Monday.