Nick Kyrgios is making another impressive run at the Citi Open, now standing just one win away from a second title in the district.
Kyrgios has reeled off five victories this week–four in straight sets and one in which he saved five match points–and his reward is a final showdown against fellow unseeded competitor Yoshihito Nishioka on Sunday evening. The Aussie is aiming for his seventh ATP title overall, while Nishioka is going for his second in what is just his third final.
Sunday marks the fifth career meeting between Kyrgios and Nishioki (fourth on the main tour). Every one of their previous encounters has gone Kyrgios’ way, including three of the four in straight sets. The Japanese left-hander managed to take a set only at the 2016 Atlanta Open, where he ultimately went down 6-3, 6-2. They have not faced each other since a 2019 showdown at this same Washington, D.C. tournament–with Kyrgios cruising 6-2, 7-5 during second-round action on his way to the title.
Kyrgios is obviously a huge favorite to make it five in a row in this head-to-head series. The 27-year-old is 11-1 in his last 12 singles matches and 17-1 in his last 18 matches overall if you also include doubles (he and Jack Sock will play for the Washington, D.C. title later on Sunday night). So far this week Kyrgios has defeated Marcos Giron, Tommy Paul, Reilly Opelka, Frances Tiafoe (from five match points down), and Mikael Ymer.
Nishioka had not won a single ATP match since Miami in March prior to arriving in the nation’s capital. But it has all turned around for the world No. 96, who has advanced by beating Jenson Brookby, Alex de Minaur, Karen Khachanov, Dan Evans (in three hours and 35 minutes), and Andrey Rublev.
As their past history suggests, this is not a good matchup for Nishioka. He has been broken multiple times in four of his five matches in Washington, D.C., including four on one occasion and five on another. That is not much of a surprise, either, considering his game style. When Kyrgios is serving the way he is right now, however, getting broken even once in a set is likely one too many times.
The Wimbledon runner-up is simply on a roll right now, and there is no reason to think Nishioka will be the one to stop it.
Pick: Kyrgios in 2
WWW?
Nick playing well…should win bot S & Doubles