By Adrianna Outlaw | Sunday, January 7, 2018
No. 3-seeded Nick Kyrgios hit 17 aces defeating Ryan Harrison, 6-4, 6-2, to collect his first title on home soil at the Brisbane International.
Photo credit: Brisbane International
Nick Kyrgios delivered a bang-up Brisbane performance to capture his fourth career title.
Kyrgios cranked 17 aces and denied all five break points he faced defeating Ryan Harrison, 6-4, 6-2, to collect his first title on home soil at the Brisbane International.
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The powerful final performance caps a week in which Kyrgios fought back from a set down in his first three matches conquering compatriot Matthew Ebden, Alexandr Dolgopolov and top-seeded, defending champion Grigor Dimitrov en route to the title.
It is Kyrgios' first title since he won Tokyo in 2016.
“The way I put myself in some pretty tough situations, came back from a set down three times against three pretty good opponents, that’s just confidence mentally but physically as well,” Kyrgios said. “I’m pretty happy with my performance today; he came out firing early.
"I didn’t know what kind of performance I’d put in, as the week went on I felt I was serving better and hitting the ball a lot better.”
Kyrgios, who played with strapping on his leg throughout the tournament, raised his record to 4-3 in ATP finals.
The 22-year-old Aussie will now set his sights on the Australian Open, which starts on January 15th. Kyrgios has not surpassed the fourth round of a Grand Slam since reaching the 2011 Australian Open quarterfinals, including back-to-back first-round exits at Wimbledon and the US Open last year.
World No. 47 Harrison was contesting his first final since he won the 2017 Memphis title last February.