It was a great day early on in Australia for fans of home players. Both Nick Kyrgios and Alex De Minaur earned semi-final spots in the Brisbane International.
De Minaur played in the first match on the Pat Rafter Arena court. He faced fellow teenager Michael Mmoh from the United States who, like De Minaur was playing in his first ATP quarter-final. In a close first set Mmoh had three chances to break including two points in a row at 15-40. De Minaur saved both and a third later in the game.
Mmoh got edgy as set progressed. The American made some poor decisions in the ninth game as he twice stopped play to challenge calls. Both times he challenged incorrectly. The second came on De Minaur’s break point chance and the Australian would serve for the set. He served out successfully with a beautiful forehand down the line.
Mmoh did not really recover from the manner in which he lost the opener. The 19 year-old failed to win another games as De Minaur cruised to a 6-4, 6-0 win.
De Minaur will move into his first ATP semi-final, where he will face Denis Istomin or Ryan Harrison.
He is joined in the semi-finals by compatriot Nick Kyrgios, who defeated Aleksandr Dolgopolov 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. Former finalist Dolgopolov got off to a hot start, winning the first set in just twenty-two minutes.
There may have been fears that Krygios’ knee injury from the match against Matthew Ebden may be haunting him, but the Australian produced a determined comeback. He broke Dolgopolov once in each set and did not face another himself in the final two sets.
Krygios could face top seed and defending champion Grigor Dimitrov in what would be an enticing blockbuster semi-final. Dimitrov is still to play his quarter-final against Britain’s Kyle Edmund.
