Nick Kyrgios ends nearly three-year drought with Houston victory
Nick Kyrgios has claimed his first clay court win on the ATP tour since May 2019 to progress to the second round of Houston.
The Australian took on home talent Mackenzie McDonald in the first round of the US Men’s Clay Court Championships after receiving a wildcard into the event.
In what was a first competitive match on the surface for Kyrgios since 2019, the 26-year-old struggled at first before claiming victory in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Three certainties in life ⬇️
✅ Death
✅ Taxes
✅ Kyrgios hitting a tweener@NickKyrgios #USClay pic.twitter.com/5R6rgFAS6l— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 5, 2022
This is a first tour level victory for Kyrgios on clay since he defeated now world number two Daniil Medvedev in the opening round of the 2019 Rome Masters.
Kyrgios said in his post-match interview: “I slip and slide a little bit but my game actually suits the clay quite well.
“It’s a great atmosphere out here, the crowd’s pretty involved.
“I’m looking forward to just continuing to progress through the event.”
Admittedly Kyrgios had not even played a clay court ATP match since that run in Rome in 2019, one which ended unceremoniously against Casper Rudd.
That day Kyrgios was defaulted from his match against the Norwegian when, after receiving a game penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, the Aussie was defaulted after flinging his chair onto the court.
He later apologised via Instagram, saying: “Sorry Roma, see you again, maybe.”
Kyrgios played neither the 2020 or 2021 Rome Masters events, and is set to miss 2022 also with Houston looking likely to be the only clay event that the world number 94 plays this year.
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