Nick Kyrgios continued his push for a second ATP World Tour title.
He overcame a stern test from fellow #NextGen star Yoshihito Nishioka on Saturday at the BB&T Atlanta Open.
Kyrgios needed one hour and 36 minutes to secure his spot in a third ATP World Tour final, downing Nishioka 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
With temperatures soaring on a humid late afternoon in Atlanta, he fired 16 aces and saved 3 of 4 break points faced.
“It was a hot and humid day,” Kyrgios said on court following the match.
“Yoshi is a great player and makes you play a lot of balls and a lot of rallies.
The crowd was great today too… I came out strong [in the third set] and that shows good fighting spirit.
“It feels good. I knew at the start of the week that I could get this far. It’s not really surprising, but it’s rewarding for sure.”
Kyrgios claimed first blood early in the opening set, breaking for 3-1 with a forehand winner down the line.
The Aussie bullied the 20 year old behind the baseline with deep, penetrating forehands.
Nishioka would save two set points in the eighth game, but Kyrgios closed out the opener with a hold to love at 6-3.
He launched 15 winners and lost just one point on his first serve.
As quickly as Kyrgios streaked to a one-set lead, Nishioka answered in kind.
The patient and consistent Japanese stayed the course.
He capitalised on unforced errors from the 21-year-old Aussie to break immediately in the second set and eventually force a decider.
But Kyrgios would rediscover his rhythm in the third set, converting his fourth break point of the sixth game for the decisive lead.
He would close out the win on his first match point with a service winner to Nishioka’s forehand.
The 13th clash between #NextGen players this year, it was Kyrgios and Nishioka’s first at the tour-level.
They had previously met in the second round of the ATP Challenger Tour event in Savannah two years ago.
Kyrgios champion on the indoor hard courts of Marseille in February.
He moves on to face 6′ 10″ John Isner winner of the second semi-final, against 6′ 11″ Reilly Opelka.
Isner is the three-time defending champion, while 18-year-old Opelka appeared in his first ATP World Tour semi-final.
Nishioka exits Atlanta having registered his best result on the ATP World Tour.
His semi-final finish will move him to a projected career-high Top 90 position in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday.
“I think I played very well, but he has a great serve,” said Nishioka. “
He has a great second serve and I didn’t have many chances to break.
“I couldn’t put pressure on his first serves either.”
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