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By Adrianna Outlaw | Friday, September 15, 2017

 
Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios subdued Steve Darcis, 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-2, as Australia earned a singles split on the opening day of semifinal play in Brussels, Belgium.

Photo credit: IMAGELLAN/Davis Cup Facebook

Nick Kyrgios went the distance to keep Australia on pace with Belgium in the Davis Cup semifinals.

Kyrgios subdued Steve Darcis, 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-2, as Australia earned a singles split with Belgium on the opening day of semifinal play on the red clay of Palais 12 in Brussels, Belgium.

Watch: Tsonga Levels For France vs. Serbia



Australia’s John Peers and Jordan Thompson are scheduled to play Ruben Bemelmans and Arthur De Greef in tomorrow’s doubles match though both team captains could call in substitutes for that crucial match.

The 20th-ranked Kyrgios slashed an inside-out forehand to complete his comeback.

It was the first five-set singles win of Kyrgios’ Davis Cup career.




The 33-year-old Darcis brought the home crowd to the edge of delirium as he built a two-sets-to-one lead when Kyrgios misfired on a forehand to drop the third-set tie break.




That was really the 77th-ranked Belgian’s final stand.

Kyrgios broke to open the fourth set, quickly consolidated for 2-0 and never looked back forcing the fifth set.

A weary Darcis left the court down 1-2 in the fourth set for treatment and departed again after the fourth set, but could never regain the stinging serve or shot-making facility he displayed in the first three sets.

Belgian Davis Cup hero David Goffin beat back a strong challenge from John Millman, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 staking the host to a 1-0 lead.




The 12th-ranked Goffin, who led Belgium to the 2015 Davis Cup final where it fell to Great Britain, had been slowed by an ankle injury that forced him out of Wimbledon earlier this summer.

Former world No. 60 Millman, who knocked off compatriot Kyrgios en route to the US Open third round earlier this month, tested Goffin from the start.

“Physically I'm not at my best, but I knew for the team and the fans that I had to leave my heart out on the court," Goffin said in his on-court interview. “I made some mistakes but there were a lot of rallies. It was tough out there and I managed to find my rhythm after the tiebreak. It made a difference to take the next two sets and the last was justified.

"To give one point to your country is the best feeling you can have."




The winner of this semifinal will play the winner of the France vs. Serbia semifinal in the November 24-26th Davis Cup final.


 

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