By Chris Oddo | Tuesday May 14, 2019
Nick Kyrgios is rolling in Rome. The Aussie put on a showmaking clinic on Tuesday against Daniil Medvedev at the Foro Italico from first ball to last, and we literally mean FROM. FIRST. BALL.
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The match that started with an underarm serve (there were about five of them in all) and ended with Kyrgios’ 15th ace was completed in one hour and 33 minutes and a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory for the Aussie over No.12-seeded Russian.
Kyrgios didn’t just entertain—oh he sure did that—he also played extremely well and was able to dig out of his biggest trouble spot in the third set by saving two break points to hold for 5-2.
It was at this juncture of the match where Kyrgios’ je ne sais quoi was on full display. He hammered a 223KPH second serve at 15-40 and won the point. Then on the next point he played a daring dropper to get back to deuce.
He would hold for 5-2 and even though Medvedev closed to 5-3, clinching the next game as Kyrgios humorously turned his back to the play as if to say “spank me,” it was Kyrgios for the win and a spot in the second round in Rome.
Medvedev was in good form with an 8-2 record on clay thus far this year, including one over Novak Djokovic at Monte-Carlo, but Kyrgios was too good on this day. He’ll move on to face Norway’s Casper Ruud in the second round.
In other action early on Tuesday at Rome, David Goffin knocked off Stan Wawrinka 4-6 6-0 6-2 while American Taylor Fritz stopped Argentina’s Guido Pella 6-3 6-4. For all the scores, click over to Tennisnow’s live score page.