2020 in Review: Nick Kyrgios wins thrilling encounter over Stefanos Tsitsipas

Australia faced Greece on January 7, competing at the ATP Cup in front of the home fans in Brisbane. John Millman had to work hard against Michail Pervolarakis before Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas entered the arena. In one of the most exciting matches of the entire tournament, the Aussie prevailed 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, in two hours and 34 minutes to push Australia over the top! It was a great battle between two fierce and crafty rivals, who produced a barrage of powerful strokes and attacking tennis of the highest order. Kyrgios grabbed four points more, landing 25 aces and dropping only 26 points behind the initial shot in the entire clash. The home star faced only two break chances, while Tsitsipas bested that despite winning only 15 out of 38 points on the second serve, surviving one break chance offered to Kyrgios and staying in touch until 5-5 in the deciding tie break.

The extraordinary match could have lasted only for a set, though, with Tsitsipas hitting his father's right arm with a racquet after losing the opening set. The smash caused a little cut and caused angry reactions from both father and mother, who came down to the players' box to speak with her son. Instead of being defaulted, Stefanos went unpunished by Mohamed Lahyani, continuing to play and standing close to the finish line in the third. Producing clinical serving display, two rivals reached 5-5 in 25 minutes, racing towards the tie break after a tricky hold for Stefanos in game 11 that required three deuces.

Nick Kyrgios prevailed over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the ATP Cup.

The breaker offered drama and excitement, with the Greek coming back from 5-3 down and standing two points away from the set three times, only to lose it 9-7 after a forced error created by Nick's forehand and show that antics on his bench that could have caused his first default in a career. The second set saw two break chances for the Greek in the third game, denied by Kyrgios, who held following a point penalty for Tsitsipas after slamming a ball towards his box. Staying neck and neck, the rivals hit another tie break, and this time it was the Greek who grabbed it 7-3 with a service winner to deliver a decider. There, Stefanos repelled one break chance in the seventh game to remain on the positive side until the tie break that kept them locked at 5-5 for drama on both the court and the stands. Booming second serve sent Nick 6-5 in front, and it was all over when he landed a backhand return winner to seal the deal and claim one of his most cherished victories.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/36AFD5T