Nick Kyrgios is continuing his career-best season, reaching his second final in less than a month after beating Mikael Ymer of Sweden in the Citi Open ATP event in Washington.
The Greek Aussie maverick dealt with 23-year-old Ymer in straight sets 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 and prevailed in one hour 34 minutes after securing the only service break of the match in the second set.
“Honestly I didn’t play anywhere near my best tennis today,” Kyrgios said after the match.
“The past couple of matches I’ve been on paper, rankings-wise the underdog, but today I definitely felt like the favourite. I served pretty solid. Obviously my winning percentage behind my first serve would have been high, but from the back of the court I didn’t play well at all.”
But he said the semi-final was “tough-fought” praising his opponent.
“The difference was he stands on the fast and he makes you play that extra ball. He’s an incredible athlete and I really wasn’t expecting him to be that fast.”
The win follows the epic quarter final battle with Frances Tiafoe which left Kyrgios drained of energy.
“I didn’t get to sleep until 4.50am. I had so much adrenaline,” he said. “I ate some dinner, got some treatment, my body was so sore after last night.
“It was an epic battle. I didn’t really do much today,” he said of his match against Ymer, “and I felt like my energy was a little flat today early on.”
“It’s understandable – I’m only human – but my adrenaline for the final is going to be right there. I’m super excited for it.”
In the final, Kyrgios will face off 96th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan.
This will be the 11th final in his career, marking the first time he has reached a second consecutive tournament final.