Nishioka upsets Rublev to reach Citi Open final alongside Kyrgios
Yoshihito Nishioka takes out No 2 seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets on Saturday at the ATP 500 tournament in Washington, DC. Nick Kyrgios awaits Nishioka in the final.
Yoshihito Nishioka, 2023 © AI / Reuters / Panoramic
Against all odds, Yoshihito Nishioka is through to a third ATP final and is one win away from a second title.
Nishioka needed three hours and 35 minutes to outlast Dan Evans in the Citi Open quarter-finals on Friday evening and then he had to go up against No 1 seed Andrey Rublev on Saturday. But neither fatigue nor the opponent seemed to be an issue, as Nishioka pulled off a 6-3, 6-4 upset in one hour and 19 minutes.
Nishioka vs. Kyrgios in Washington, DC final
The Japanese left-hander’s reward is a showdown against Nick Kyrgios in Sunday’s final. Kyrgios is going for his second title at this ATP 500 event, having previously triumphed in 2019.
“I love to play here; I have been here many times,” Nishioka reflected. “But for tomorrow everyone loves Nick, as well. Hopefully still they [cheer for] me, but (I’m) just (going to) enjoy the day tomorrow. (It is my) first time (in a) final in a 500. I’m excited.”
Prior to Saturday’s result, Nishioka knocked off Jenson Brooksby (6-4, 6-3), Alex De Minaur (3-6, 7-6(6), 6-2), Karen Khachanov (7-6(2), 7-6(1)), and Evans (7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5).
Rublev defeated Jack Draper (6-4, 6-2), Maxime Cressy (6-4, 7-6(8)), and J.J. Wolf (6-2, 6-3).
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