Nick Kyrgios and David Goffin both enjoyed straight sets wins over Gael Monfils and Marin Cilic respectively to earn berths in the Tokyo Final on Saturday. Kyrgios defeated enigmatic Frenchman Monfils 6-4, 6-4, whilst Goffin beat 2014 US Open champion Cilic 7-5, 6-4.
In an encounter between two exciting players it was Nick Kyrgios who emerged the victor over Frenchman Gael Monfils in Tokyo. Kyrgios produced a remarkably consistent performance to defeat US Open semi-finalist Monfils. Kyrgios secured a single break in the first set, and then served a deuce game when serving for the set, eventually closing out the opener when Monfils could only block a return into the net.
Monfils did at least manage a break of the Australian’s serve in the second set, though he surrendered his own serve twice, struggling particularly on second serve, and Kyrgios was able to continue his improvement on last year’s quarter-final appearance by reaching the final of this year’s event. The win levels the head-to-head between Kyrgios and Monfils at 1-1 after Monfils had taken the first career meeting between the two in a dead rubber in the first round of the Davis Cup in 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRaC_INWUTI
Kyrgios’ opponent in the final will be the Belgian David Goffin who remains perfect in his head-to-head record with Marin Cilic. Goffin extended the record to 3-0 with a ruthless display against an out-of-sorts Cilic. Goffin converted all three of his break point opportunities in the straight sets victory whilst Cilic failed to land more than 50% of his first serves in the match. Cilic managed a single break of the Goffin serve in the first set, but the Belgian replied with two of his own, before converting the single break point of the second set.
Goffin: “I have proved I have a high level. Maybe one day, maybe tomorrow, I can win a tournament like this.”
The run in Tokyo represents a true return to form for Goffin, who had suffered early exits in three of his last four tournaments including at the US Open. Reaching the final will ensure that both Goffin and Kyrgios boost their chances for reaching the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London, gaining ground against the likes of Dominic Thiem, Rafael Nadal, Tomas Berdych, and Cilic for places. Despite his semi-final defeat, Monfils, who currently stands at No.6 in the race, will continue to put distance between himself and the current ninth-ranked player Tomas Berdych.
The Tokyo final represent the first career meeting between Goffin and Kyrgios.
