Stylish Kyrgios sets up Dimitrov semi-final in Brisbane

The mercurial Australian huffed and puffed in a miserable first set but eventually found some rhythm to come through a tricky encounter 1-6 6-3 6-4.

Stylish Kyrgios sets up Dimitrov semi-final in Brisbane

(Reuters)





Bulgarian Dimitrov also had to battle hard against Britain's Kyle Edmund, winning 6-3 6-7(3) 6-4 in two hours and 23 minutes at the Pat Rafter Arena.

Kyrgios, who will be under the home spotlight at this month's Australian Open, made 36 unforced errors against Dolgopolov but there were 27 winners too.

"As bad as it is to say, it's kind of like a tap. I can turn it on when I want to," the third seed told reporters.

"I'm feeling pretty good. 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," added Kyrgios, who beat compatriot Matthew Ebdon 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-2 in the second round.

"The only positive I can say about losing that first set (against Dolgopolov) 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."

Dimitrov was in control against Edmund as he took the first set but was dragged into a second-set tiebreak which the Briton edged to set up the decider.

Dimitrov, who survived two match points to beat local hope John Millman in the previous round, needed a solitary break to close out the match.

Kyrgios was joined in the last four by fellow Australian Alex De Minaur as the teenager followed up his win over Milos Raonic by beating American qualifier Michael Mmoh 6-4 6-0.

De Minaur will play unseeded American Ryan Harrison for a place in the final. Harrison was leading 7-6(6) 4-2 when Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin retired from the contest.





(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris and Martyn Herman)


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world