Nick Kyrgios Does The Job At US Open - UBITENNIS
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Nick Kyrgios Does The Job At US Open

30 aces and 65 winners drive the Aussie to his 201st win on the tour

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Image via https://twitter.com/CitiOpen

By Kingsley Elliot Kaye

Kyrgios didn’t play his most spectacular tennis to reach third round of the US Open for the fifth time in his career, but played a consistent match his way, pacing through his service games, not always focused on returns, flashing his talent now and then, and moving up a notch in key stages. Every time Bonzi got close to threatening, or took over the stage with a winner, Kyrgios never lost his bearings and responded immediately. 

In turn Bonzi succeeded in counterpunching the Aussie’s power and rallied at the same lightening speed, often prevailing. But for a shaky start he served effectively, constantly pressuring and eager to move forward. Most of all he was quick to seize his chances when he was returning. Not many players can boast breaking Kyrgios twice. Only his forehand let him down a little too often. 

“His level was really, really good. I was really, like, fortunate to get through in four set. I felt like he was reading my serve, he was hitting so many returns. It was one of those matches where you kind of survive,” Kyrgios said after his tight four set victory 76 64 46 64.

Bonzi kicked off with an ace but three unforced errors followed and gave break point to Kyrgios who timely converted it with his flagship backhand down the line.

Yet it wasn’t just plain sailing for Kyrgios. In the fourth game, after a double fault, he was spurred to overhurry and gifted three break points. He saved two but then Bonzi charged the net and put away the volley to break back. 

From then on the first set flew away at lightening speed. Kyrgios rushed through his service games and rallies were like in a videogame at the ultimate level. Bonzi held his serve with less panache but solidly. 

The set could not but be decided by a tiebreak. 

Bonzi got a minibreak to lead 3-1. Kyrgios immediately ripped it back with a bullying passing shot, then shifted to a higher gear: an unretrievable kick second serve, a forehand passing shot down the line in Sampras style, a winning backhand return down the line, a deep forehand return followed by a foray into the net, a winning first serve to close it out 7-3. The whole set had lasted just 49 minutes. 

The storyline didn’t change in the second set until the tenth game. Bonzi appeared to be comfortably on the way to hold serve, when at 40-15 he stumbled over his first double fault of the match. Three unforced errors, the last off his forehand, gave Kyrgios the break and the set, 64. 

Bonzi did not lose heart and went on with his game plan in the third set. Such determination was rewarded in the ninth game when he returned a 134 mph first serve and rallied till he elicited an unforced error from Kyrgios. On break point the Australian followed his second serve to the net but butchered the volley. He spat in disgust toward his box. But Bonzi had the break and soon after clasped the set with Kyrgios hitting a home run return into the stands.

Bonzi was close to turning the whole match around, when he broke Kyrgios again in the third game of the fourth set annihilating him with an inside out backhand passing shot.

A year ago Kyrgios would have likely thrown away such a match, enraptured by fury. Instead today his reaction was vibrant. On Bonzi’s serve he climbed 0-30 with huge forehands, then Bonzi missed a volley and conceded two break points. He saved the first with a serve but then wasn’t able to tame a vicious sliced return and Kyrgios bounced back! Now he was really on fire, hitting one ace after another. But once more Bonzi still held on. In the ninth game he placed a millimetric lob, then a smashing backhand down the line to earn three more break points. Now it really was a gripping contest. 

Kyrgios saved the first with a dropshot, the second with a flipped crosscourt forehand, and the third with his 30th ace. He barged on with a winning first serve winner, then a dropshot that Bonzi wasn’t able to shovel back over the net. 

“I just tried to play the most unpredictable, low-percentage tennis,” Kyrgios explained.  “I know if I play any other way, I’m probably going to get broken. Why wouldn’t I just try? It got me out of jail, that was a massive momentum switch.”

After such a hold, the flow was unstoppable. Kyrgios soared to match point in the next game and sealed victory taking pace off the rally, then firing his favourite backhand down the line.

“I know that I’m capable of going to a slam final now and I really want to achieve. This year’s been amazing in so many different ways. For my tennis, I kind of wanted to almost reinvent myself, get back to the top of the game where I know I belong.”

He looks forward to taking on J.J. Wolf in the third round. “He’s got a massive game. I love the way he plays tennis. Serves big and plays big. I’m excited. A young gun. I love playing these young guys. I never thought I’d say that. I’ve been on tour now for 10 years and I’m calling people young.”

Nice words from a wise guy, that’s Kyrgios.

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Wrist Injury Threatening To End Holger Rune’s Olympic Dream

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Holger Rune will have a second medical opinion on Monday before deciding if he is fit enough to play at the Olympic Games, according to his team. 

The Danish world No.17 recently retired from his quarter-final match at the Hamburg Open due to a knee injury. The hope at the time was that his withdrawal would be just a precautionary measure ahead of the Olympics. However, he is also dealing with a second issue that appears to be more serious.

According to TV 2 Sport, Rune has been struggling with a wrist issue and underwent a scan on Sunday which his mother Aneke says ‘doesn’t look promising.’ Aneke is also the manager of her son’s career. Rune’s Olympic dreams now rest on the outcome of a second medical expert that he will visit tomorrow who has a better understanding of the sport. 

“Unfortunately, it does not look promising after the first medical opinion after the review of the scan of the wrist,” Aneke Rune told TV 2 Sport.

“We are waiting for two tennis-specific doctors who will give a second opinion tomorrow (Monday). Tennis wrists look different from regular wrists, so we’ll hold out hope for one more day.” 

Rune is one of three Danish players entered into the Olympic tennis event along with Caroline Wozniacki and Clara Tauson. The country has only won one medal in tennis before which was at the 1912 Games when Sofie Castenschiold won silver in the women’s indoor singles event. 

So far this season, the 21-year-old has won 27 matches on the Tour but is yet to claim a title. He reached the final of the Brisbane International and then the semi-finals of three more events. In the Grand Slams, he made it to the fourth round of the French Open and Wimbledon. 

It is not known when a final decision regarding Rune’s participation in Paris will be made.

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Hubert Hurkacz Undergoes ‘Knee Procedure’ Ahead of Olympic Bid

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Poland’s top player on the ATP Tour is not giving up on his dream of winning a medal at the Olympic Games despite recently undergoing a medical procedure.

World No.7 Hubert Hurkacz suffered a knee injury during his second round clash at Wimbledon against France’s Arthur Fils. In the fourth set tiebreak of their clash, Hurkacz dived for a shot but landed badly on his knee and required on-court medical attention. He then played two more points before retiring from the match. 

In a social media post published on Wednesday, the  27-year-old confirmed he underwent a procedure on his knee earlier this week but didn’t provide any further details.  Although Hurkacz has stated his intention to play at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, where the tennis event will be held on the clay at Roland Garros. 

“I had a knee procedure this Monday, but I’m feeling better already and my team and are dedicating extensive time each day to the rehab process.” He wrote on Instagram. 

“It’s a dream for every athlete to represent their country at the Olympics, and I want to make sure I am fully fit and ready before making the final decision to step on court. The aim is not only to participate, but to win a medal for my country.”

So far this season Hurkacz has won 34 out of 48 matches played on the Tour. He won the Estoril Open in April and was runner-up to Jannik Sinner in Halle. 

The Olympic tennis event is scheduled to begin a week Saturday on July 27th. Poland is yet to win a medal in the event but expectations are high with women’s No.1 Iga Swiatek also taking part. 

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Motivation, Pressure And Expectations – Novak Djokovic Targets History At Wimbledon

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image via x.com/wimbledon

Novak Djokovic has broken numerous records throughout his career but he still feels the pressure of trying to make history in the sport. 

The world No.2 is through to his 10th Wimbledon final where he will play Carlos Alcaraz, who beat him at this stage of the tournament 12 months ago. There is plenty on the line for the Serbian who could equal Roger Federer’s record for most men’s titles won at SW19 and break the overall record for most major singles won in the sport if he triumphs over the Spaniard. Djokovic currently has 24 Grand Slam trophies to his name which is the same as Margaret Court, who won some of her titles before the Open Era started. 

“Obviously I’m aware that Roger [Federer] holds eight Wimbledons. I hold seven. History is on the line.” Djokovic said on Friday after beating Lorenzo Musetti.

“Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam. Of course, it serves as a great motivation, but at the same time it’s also a lot of pressure and expectations.”

Coming into Wimbledon, there had been doubts over Djokovic’s form after he underwent surgery to treat a knee injury he suffered at the French Open. However, he has defied the odds to reach the final. His run has also seen him beat Alexi Popyrin and Holger Rune before getting a walkover in the quarter-finals from Alex de Minaur, who sustained an injury during the tournament. Then on Friday, he overcame a spirited Musetti in three sets. 

Despite the challenge, Djokovic has insisted that his expectations to do well are always high no matter what the situation is. During what has been a roller-coaster first six months of the season, he is yet to win a title this year or beat a player currently ranked in the top 10. Although he will achieve both of these if her beats Alcaraz on Sunday. 

“Every time I step out on the court now, even though I’m 37 and competing with the 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win, whatever, 99% of the matches that I play.” He said.

“I always have to come out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at the level with Carlos [Alcaraz] or Jannik [Sinner] or Sascha [Zverev] or any of those guys, Daniil [Medvedev]. 

“This year hasn’t been that successful for me. It’s probably the weakest results the first six months I’ve had in many years. That’s okay. I had to adapt and accept that and really try to find also way out from the injury that I had and kind of regroup.”

Djokovic hopes that a Wimbledon win will help turn his season around like it has done in the past for him. 

“Wimbledon historically there’s been seasons where I wasn’t maybe playing at a desired level, but then I would win a Wimbledon title and then things would change.” He commented.

“For example, that was the case in 2018 when I had elbow surgery earlier in the year, dropped my rankings out of top 20, losing in fourth round of Australian Open, I think it was quarters of Roland-Garros, and just not playing the tennis that I want to play. Then I won Wimbledon and then won US Open and then later on became No.1 very soon.”

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Alcaraz is hoping to stop Djokovic in his tracks. Should he defend his title at Wimbledon, he would become the first player outside the Big Three to do so since Pete Sampras more than 20 years ago. He has won their only previous meeting on the grass but trails their head-to-head 3-2. 

“I’m sure he knows what he has to do to beat me,” said Alcaraz.

“But I’m ready to take that challenge and I’m ready to do it well.”

When the two players take to the court to play in the Wimbledon final, Djokovic will be 15 years and 348 days older than Alcaraz. Making it the largest age gap in a men’s Grand Slam final since the 1974 US Open. Whoever is victorious will receive £2,700,000 in prize money. 

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