Volatile Nick Kyrgios blasts into second round of U.S. Open
Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios used a lot of firepower, a hair-trigger temper and a thundering serve to upset Russia`s Mikhail Youzhny in his opening match at the U.S. Open on Monday.
|Last Updated: Aug 26, 2014, 09:46 AM IST|Source: Reuters
New York: Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios used a lot of firepower, a hair-trigger temper and a thundering serve to upset Russia`s Mikhail Youzhny in his opening match at the U.S. Open on Monday.
The 19-year-old Kyrgios came within one code violation of defaulting, but used his blazing serve to record 26 aces in ousting the Russian 21st seed 7-5, 7-6, (4) 2-6, 7-6 (1).
"It was a tough first match playing Youzhny, someone that`s played well here in the past," Kyrgios said about the two-times U.S. Open semi-finalist who last year fell in the quarters against Novak Djokovic. "I knew I had to serve well, and I hit 26 aces. Those are good stats."
Kyrgios already delivered the message that he is a force to be reckoned with after ousting Rafa Nadal in the fourth round at Wimbledon as the 144th ranked player. The Australian now stands 60th on the world list.
He said frustration over some poor play and the pressure of higher expectations led him to blow off steam and collect those code violations.
"I guess just heat of the moment. I was frustrated the way I was playing, and it was just all that sort of stuff. It was just an outburst, and hopefully I will be able to control that the next time I play," said Kyrgios.
Kyrgios, who came to Flushing Meadows as a qualifier last year, said the stakes have been raised since his Wimbledon success.
"I`m probably expecting a lot out of myself at these sort of tournaments. I have to know I`m still young and it`s a long journey. I have to just be patient," he admitted, before adding, "I think it`s good to have high expectations, as well."
The crowd at the U.S. National Tennis Center also lifted the young Australian.
"I was really, really happy with that. They were chanting, you know, all sorts of things. It was really good. It gave me the spark in the fourth set. I sort of fed off that a bit and it gave me extra energy.
"I have been an emotional player most of my career. Maybe I will be able to manage it in the future. It`s a work in progress. It`s something that`s always been there."
Kyrgios, who next meets Italy`s Andreas Seppi, said he enjoyed the raucous New York atmosphere so much that the U.S. championship now topped his list.
"I`m going to get scorched in Melbourne, but it`s my favorite grand slam," he said.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.