Kyrgios books semi-final spot after saving five match points against Tiafoe

Australian Nick Kyrgios reached the semi-finals of the Citi Open by beating American Frances Tiafoe, the No 10 seed, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (12), 6-2 at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Washington on Saturday night.

Kyrgios, ranked No 63, saved five match points in the second set tie-break. The Wimbledon finalist and 2019 winner in Washington will face Swede Mikael Ymer next.

Kyrgios : “Happy where I am”

“I don’t even think about it as match point or not” said Kyrgios after the match. “At the end of the day, if I lose, I lose. I’m going to shake that person’s hand and say, ‘Too good.’ That’s all I did. I put myself in a position to stay in the match, and I felt, my experience, he was getting the crowd up and involved early on. I wasted a little bit of energy early.”

“It’s tough conditions out here” Kyrgios added. “You lose a lot of fluids out here, and my serve towards the end kicked up to another gear. I felt like I had fresh legs at the end. Serving 130 in these conditions is pretty helpful. I’m really happy where I’m at.”

Serving 130 in these conditions is pretty helpful.

Nick Kyrgios

Ahead of his victory, the Australian won against American Marcos Giron (6-3, 6-2), American Tommy Paul, the No 14 seed (6-3, 6-4) and American Reilly Opelka, the No 4 seed (7-6 (1), 6-2).

Tiafoe, ranked No 27, defeated wildcard Christopher Eubanks (6-3, 7-6 (2)) and Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, the No 8 seed (4-6, 6-2, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.

Washington ATP 500, other quarter final results (Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, hard, USD 2.108.110, most recent results first):

• Mikael Ymer beat Sebastian Korda: 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
• Andrey Rublev (1) beat J.J. Wolf (WC): 6-2, 6-3
• Yoshihito Nishioka beat Daniel Evans (16): 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-5

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