(Montreal) Nick Kyrgios was in a hurry on Thursday: the day after his convincing victory over world No.1 Daniil Medvedev, the Australian only took 1h 04 to sweep his compatriot Alex De Minaur and rush into the quarterfinals of the Omnium National Bank in Montreal, where Hubert Hurkacz will be waiting for him.
Updated yesterday at 8:27 p.m.
To say that Kyrgios is euphoric, since his lost final at Wimbledon in early July and his title in Washington last week, which ended a three-year drought, is an understatement.
37e World Cup, who won the first four games in 11 minutes, outclassed 6-2, 6-3 De Minaur (21e), to remove its 15e victory in 16 games.
“There were a lot of issues. I’m happy with my performance today. After beating Medvedev yesterday, my confidence is incredibly high,” he agreed after his win.
Formidable in power and efficiency, he took his compatriot by the throat from the outset, breaking him twice in a row. He then succeeded in almost everything he undertook, whether from the baseline or on the fly.
The start of the second set was slightly more contested, De Minaur taking advantage of a release from his opponent to cancel a break. But Kyrgios immediately recovered by taking the serve in stride, to then increase his advantage with a double break.
“Physio, eat, sleep, play”
The Australian, as talented as he was volcanic, still swung a few points at 5-2 30/0 on his serve, leaving De Minaur to reduce the score. But after being annoyed out loud in the direction of his camp in the stands, as he often does, he did not give his opponent the opportunity to hope for better, finishing the job cleanly.
Kyrgios is therefore continuing its pluperfect North American summer, which has been illustrating a real renaissance for the past few months, after two dark years weighed down by depression and suicidal thoughts.
More than two weeks before the US Open, he appears, in the probable absence of Novak Djokovic, prevented from entering the United States because he has not been vaccinated, as a very serious candidate for the title. In the same way as the holder and world No.1 Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal, also back in the forefront in 2022 with his coronations at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, which brought his record to 22 Majors won.
But the 27-year-old must first continue his journey in Montreal, despite a fatigue that is beginning to weigh on his legs.
“I have to play the game, physio, eat, sleep, play. It’s grueling, but that’s sport. I kinda miss home, I’m not going to lie. I haven’t seen my mum and dad for about three months,” he said.
Other qualifiers, the American Tommy Paul (34e) and Briton Daniel Evans (39e) who will be opposed on Friday, just like Jack Draper (82e), who took advantage of the abandonment of Gaël Monfils (20e), hit in the right foot.