Nick Kyrgios ‘worn out’ but sets mouth-watering clash with Masters champion

Nick Kyrgios has ensured a blockbuster battle with Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz after coming through a ‘tricky’ first round match in Cincinnati. 

The 2017 finalist defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-5, 6-4 in a not so straightforward straight sets victory. 

The first meeting between the two, Kyrgios praised his opponent, saying after the match: “He’s a tricky player, he’s so talented, he’s got so many shots at his disposal,”

“The conditions are a lot different here to Montreal. It’s more lively, harder to hit the ball in, but I responded well and returned well today. Hopefully I can keep it going.”

Kyrgios reached the quarter-finals in Montreal before falling to eventual finalist Hubert Hurkacz while struggling with injury. 

The Australian admitted he is fatigued as his heavy season continues but is looking ahead to his next tussle. 

“I didn’t feel the best physically, a bit worn out with everything,” Kyrgios said of facing Davidovich Fokina. “But I just mentally played the big points well.

“It’s not easy out here, so I’m happy with that.”

After his next round, Kyrgios will have played 40 matches in a season for the first time since 2017. 

That match will be against 11th seed Fritz, a man he has never faced in singles before, after the American despatched Sebastian Baez 6-1, 6-1 in his first match. 

Should Kyrgios clinch a first Masters title in Cincinnati, he could rise from 28th to a joint career-high 13th in the world depending on other results.

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