Kyrgios is typically brilliant and bizarre in Brisbane victory
Nick Kyrgios was his mercurial, unpredictable self in the Brisbane International final. While producing some blindingly brilliant tennis to defeat Ryan Harrison, he still had time to get into a row with the chair umpire and hint that he might not be fit enough to play in the Australian Open.
In all probability, Kyrgios will be there on the start line in Melbourne next Monday. The Australian is a strong contender for the title, as long as he can nurse his injuryprone body through the demands of the fortnight, but you never know what he will do next – a problem Harrison shared yesterday as he went down to a 6-4, 6-2 defeat.
Kyrgios was bringing out all the tricks. One minute, he was rushing forward to take the Harrison serve on the half-volley in the manner of Roger Federer’s sneak attacks. The next, he was thumping 100 mph forehand winners with a deadpan expression as if to suggest that he was bored by his own extraordinary gifts.
His physical state remains an issue, however, particularly the left-knee problem that has required supportive taping throughout the tournament. Late in the first set, he called for the trainer to apply fresh tape but then had his request for a medical time-out denied by tournament supervisor Gerry Armstrong on the basis that he had brought the knee injury into the match.
“That rule should be changed,” Kyrgios complained. “It [the injury] is getting worse.
“This is an injury which could keep me out of the Australian Open. Imagine how I feel.’’
Later, when Harrison left the court after the first set to change his clothes, Kyrgios objected to umpire Fergus Murphy that the time his American opponent had taken was unreasonable. “I just find it strange I can’t take a medical time-out for taping that takes a couple of minutes,” he explained after the match, “but someone can leave the court for up to 10 minutes. It doesn’t really make sense.”
Meanwhile, British No1 Johanna Konta seems likely to defend her Sydney title this week after shrugging off the minor hip issue that forced her to withdraw from Brisbane on Thursday. She is expected to play her first match tomorrow.