By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Nick Kyrgios rocketed 39 aces, including a second-serve ace to save match point, edging Denis Kudla, 6-7 (2), 7-5, 7-6 (9).
Photo credit: Getty Images
A gleeful Nick Kyrgios tuned up for Cincinnati chronicling his roller-coaster ride with buddy Andy Murray on video.
The explosive Kyrgios took fans on a wild thrill ride today.
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Kyrgios rocketed 39 aces, including an outrageous 133 mph second-serve ace down match point, to edge Denis Kudla, 6-7 (2), 7-5, 7-6 (9) and reach the Western & Southern Open second round.
"I don't feel as if I can miss that serve again, so I just go for it," Kyrgios said of his audacious second-serve ace. "And it came off today, but obviously some days it's not going to work. But on days like today, obviously it got me the win.
"I have been doing it my whole career. I guess I like free points, and I don't like to rally too much. So I just go for a big second serve."
The match began on a comic note with Kyrgios forgetting his match shoes.
Searching his blue Yonex bag in vain for the missing kicks, Kyrgios finally called to his box, which sent the shoes out via a ball kid.
The 23-year-old Aussie put his foot down firmly with a fireworks serving display in the decisive tie break.
Kyrgios cranked five aces in the final-set tie break raising his 2018 record to 20-9.
The 2017 Cincinnati finalist advanced to second-round showdown with Halle champion Borna Coric.
The 21st-ranked Croatian dropped just eight points on serve defeating Russian qualifier Daniil Medvedev, 6-2, 6-3.
Australian Open semifinalist Hyeon Chung extended Jack Sock's misery with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 triumph.
Sock suffered his eighth straight singles loss.
The two-time Wimbedon doubles champion twice took treatment for apparent back spasms.
Sock, who is seeded second in the doubles draw with partner Mike Bryan, fell to 5-15 on the season. The Paris Masters champion has not won back-to-back matches since the ATP Finals at the O2 Arena last November.
The 25th-ranked Chung moves on to a second-round match with fourth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro.
White adhesive tape wrapped the right knee of Kyrgios, who has been plagued by hip and elbow issues limiting him to 29 matches this season.
This was a typical Kyrgios adventure with wrecking-ball serves rocking the radar gun in excess of 130 mph, tweeners, casual no-look drop volleys, a one-handed backhand pass attempt and some mind-numbing shot selection.
The eighth game displayed Kyrgios' extreme eruptions as he offset two double faults with a pair of searing aces holding for 4-all.
Empowered by a run to the quarterfinals of his hometown tournament in Washington, DC, Kudla was the more consistent player in the first-set tie break.
The 77th-ranked qualifier exploited a backhand error for 4-1 then reached low for a brilliant running backhand down the line earning set points at 6-1.
On his second set point, Kudla coaxed a return error sealing a one-set lead.
Detonating some massive serves in the third-set tie break, Kyrgios rocked his 36th ace for a 6-3 lead and match points.
A stubborn Kudla saved all three, including hitting a fine backhand pass crosscourt. Kudla saved a fourth match point then fired his 19th ace for a match point of his own at 8-7.
Showing no fear, Kyrgios crashed a 133 mph missile out wide to erase it. Kudla fended off a fifth match point with his 20th ace.
Rocking the American back with a churning forehand return, Kyrgios gained a sixth match point.
This time, he closed with one final blast to move on after one hour, 57 minutes.