AUSTRALIAN Nick Kyrgios has one again shone a light on his potential by crushing fifth seed and Top 10 talent Andrey Rublev in a dominant 6-3 6-0 win to reach the third round of the Miami Open. The world number 102 used all the tricks in his kit bag to completely tear apart the Russian and set up a clash with fellow controversy-stricken talent, Fabio Fognini.
“He came out hot at the start and that’s tennis. A couple points could swing a momentum change like that and once I got that double break, I started seeing the return really well,” Kyrgios said post-match. “I’ve been returning well the past four months and I guess when that’s happening, I’m serving the way I’m serving, I’m feeling the way I’m feeling, my shoulders open up and I just ran with it.”
Kyrgios’ form in 2022 is underrated, with a second round appearance at the Australian Open perhaps overshadowed by losing to the top-ranked player in that tournament Daniil Medvedev, whilst Kyrgios had his chances during his quarter finals loss to 21-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells. In the same tournamnet, the Australian rolled Casper Ruud and Jannik Sinner, making his third Top 10 win in two weeks with his victory over Rublev.
Breaking the Russian five times during the match and winning more than half of his return points, Kyrgios raced to the victory in a lightning 52 minutes.
“I know that he’s a player who relies on a bit of rhythm, so I just tried to keep the points short and sharp, just play aggressive,” Kyrgios said. “I’m just happy with my performance, whether it’s 7-6 in the third or something like this, I’m just happy to get through.”
OTHER MIAMI OPEN ROUND OF 64 RESULTS:
[1] Daniil Medvedev (-) defeated [WC] Andy Murray (GR) 6-4 6-2
[2] Alexander Zverev (GER) defeated [PR] Borna Coric (CRO) 6-4 3-6 6-3
[3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) defeated [Q] J.J. Wolf (USA) 6-4 6-7 6-1
[6] Casper Ruud (NOR) defeated Henri Laaksonen (SUI) 6-1 6-2
Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) defeated [7] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 6-4 6-2
[8] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) defeated Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) 7-6 6-2
[9] Jannik Sinner (ITA) defeated Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 6-4 3-6 7-6
[10] Cameron Norrie (GBR) defeated [WC] Jack Draper (GBR) 7-6 6-4
[11] Taylor Fritz (USA) defeated [Q] Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-3 5-7 6-3
Lloyd Harris (RSA) defeated [12] Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 6-3 6-4
[Q] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) defeated [13] Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 4-6 7-6 6-4
[14] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) defeated Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 6-3 6-2
[15] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) defeated Kamil Majchrzak (POL) 6-3 6-3
Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) defeated [16] Reilly Opelka (USA) 6-1 3-1 RET
[17] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) defeated David Goffin (BEL) 6-3 6-2
Jenson Brooksby (USA) defeated [18] Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-3 6-1
[Q] Denis Kudla (USA) defeated [19] Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 3-6 7-6 6-4
Hugo Gaston (FRA) defeated [20] John Isner (USA) 7-6 6-4
[21] Marin Cilic (CRO) defeated Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 6-0 6-3
[22] Gael Monfils (FRA) defeated Oscar Otte (GER) 7-6 6-1
Tommy Paul (USA) defeated [23] Karen Khachanov (-) 6-4 3-6 7-6
[Q] Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) defeated [24] Daniel Evans (GBR) 3-6 6-4 6-3
[25] Alex de Minaur (AUS) defeated Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-2 6-3
Mackenzie McDonald (USA) defeated [26] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 6-1 6-4
Pedro Martinez (ESP) defeated [27] Cristian Garin (CHI) 7-6 6-2
[28] Frances Tiafoe (USA) defeated Brandon Nakashima (USA) 3-6 7-6 6-4
[29] Aslan Karatsev (-) defeated Ugo Humbert (FRA) 7-5 6-2
[20] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) defeated [Q] Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) 6-7 6-3 6-4
[31] Fabio Fognini (ITA) defeated [Q] Taro Daniel (JPN) 6-7 6-2 7-6
Sebastian Korda (USA) defeated [32] Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 4-6 7-6 6-3
Juan Manuel Cerundolo (ARG) defeated [LL] Kevin Anderson (RSA) 7-6 3-6 6-3
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