By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 17, 2018
Juan Martin del Potro saved a set point conquering Nick Kyrgios, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 6-2, to reach the Cincinnati quarterfinals.
Photo credit: Western & Southern Open Facebook
Extreme experiences co-exist in Nick Kyrgios matches.
The explosive Aussie can bring the buzz or play party pooper depending on his mood.
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Today, Kyrgios was both.
Juan Martin del Potro saved a set point in the opening set conquering Kyrgios, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 6-2, to advance to the Cincinnati quarterfinals.
Del Potro withstood 29 aces from Kyrgios, kept calm amid tie-break pressure and took a bathroom break after the second set that seemed to unsettle the enigmatic Aussie, who dropped serve to open the final set and never recovered.
The fourth-seeded Argentian will return to Grandstand tonight to face David Goffin for a semifinal spot.
The 11th-seeded Belgian broke serve three times carving up Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson, 6-2, 6-4, to secure a quarterfinal spot.
Goffin did not face a break point and won 17 of 28 points played on the US Open finalist's second serve.
"Every service I was on the ball, and then the conditions were really good for me," Goffin said. "I felt the ball really well. Yeah, didn't miss a lot. I served well, I returned well, so it was a really great match, so the conditions were really good for me, I think, today."
It is Goffin's second quarterfinal in his last three tournaments following his run to the last eight in Washington, DC where he was swept by Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Today's rain-delayed round of 16 match marked the first meeting between power purveyors del Potro and Kyrgios.
The pair collaborated on dynamic rallies, a few rapid-fire net-exchanges and both men pulled off tweeners at various points.
Though four wrist surgeries have robbed del Potro's two-handed backhand of some sting, he's managed that side with more finesse.
A clever combination of lobs, including a rainbow lob from his two-hander, gave the Argentinian the first break point of the set in the ninth game.
Kyrgios rocketed a serve to save it, unleashed an ace and crunched a cross-court forehand holding for 5-4.
The No. 15 seed, who was annoyed when a linesman yelled out during a point, vented to the chair umpire during the ensuing changeover.
"He said something as I hit it," Kyrgios said. "As I hit it... That's bullshit. That's bullshit."
Kyrgios cranked a return that drew a shanked reply for set point. Another aggessive return set up a forehand that Kyrgios smoked only to see it smack into the tape and dribble wide.
Deadlocked at 4-all in the first-set tie break, Kyrgios shanked a forehand into the seats. Del Potro pumped an ace out wide for set points at 6-4.
On a net exchange, del Potro went right at the Aussie's body sealing the first set.
After first-set tie break, Kyrgios had one layer of tape removed from his knees, though both knees were still wrapped. The Kyrgios serve is one of the most imposing weapons in the sport. He showed it blistering an ace for double-set point in the second-set tie break.
The 2009 US Open champion fended off both set points, but a clever Kyrgios faked a forehand drop shot and instead shoveled a shot down the line for a third break point.
Detonating his 25th ace, Kyrgios leveled after one hour, 44 minutes.
Del Potro departed the court for a bathroom break after dropping the second set, while Kyrgios stood on his side of the net staring at the empty court for minutes.
When the third set started, Kyrgios couldn't flush the stress.
Down-shifting into full-exhibition mode, Kyrgios pulled off a pair of impressive tweeners to extend the point and showed speed and defense extending the point only to push a drop shot wide for double break point.
Belting a ball into the stands in frustration, Kyrgios saved a break point with a drop shot.
Flirting with the net on the second break point, Kyrgios watched his forehand clip the tape and pop wide as del Potro snatched the first break of the match.
Slashing successive aces, del Potro sealed a love hold for 2-0.
A cranky Kyrgios was muttering to himself before imploding in an apathetic fifth game. A double fault followed by a stiff-legged forehand he sailed long saw Kyrgios gift the second break and a 4-1 lead to the Argentinian.
Compounding his situation, a raging Kyrgios tomahawked his Yonex stick off his court-side seat, incurring a point-penalty in the process.
The third-ranked del Potro closed in two hours, 15 minutes.