A pair of Australians participated in front of the home crowd during quarterfinal action at the Brisbane International, and both are safely through to the semis. Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur continued their fine form with respective victories over Alexandr Dolgopolov and Michael Mmoh on Friday afternoon.
Kyrgios slumped through his opening set against Dolgopolov but ended up firing 18 aces to prevail 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 30 minutes.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Kyrgios commented. “I’m hitting the ball well and I’m serving really well. So the first two matches of the year, I’ve got through two tough three-setters. The only positive I can say about losing that first set is I’m putting myself in some pressure situations and getting some more court time out there, which is good…. I’ve got to try and maintain as much energy as I can. Obviously, it’s great to do well here.”
Kyrgios-Dolgopolov highlights:
de Minaur’s appearance in the last four is, of course, far more surprising than that of his countryman. The 18-year-old registers at No. 208 in the world and had only three career ATP-level match victories prior to this week–the same number he has already accrued in Brisbane. de Minaur kept his run going by taking care of fellow surprise quarterfinalist and fellow teenager Michael Mmoh 6-4, 6-0.
“It was a very nervous match,” de Minaur assessed. “Lots of different thoughts and emotions going through before that match…thinking that there’s a good opportunity for me. So it was a very sort of nervy first set, and then I felt like I let go a bit, got a little bit looser, and played some of my best tennis.”
Kyrgios, just 22, spoke like an elder statesman when asked about de Minaur.
“He’s an unbelievable talent. He’s a great kid, too…. I remember when I was a young chap just cleaning people up.”
de Minaur-Mmoh highlights:
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