King Kyrgios Captures Acapulco, Beats Zverev In Final

Nick Kyrgios finished off a dream week in style in Acapulco, best fellow youngster Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4 in the final Saturday night.

“It’s an amazing feeling. I didn’t expect much at all today. I knew I was the underdog going in and that he’s playing great tennis,” said Kyrgios. “He’s an incredible player and doesn’t have many weaknesses, so I knew I had to play my style of tennis. I’m really happy with the performance.”

Kyrgios beat three Top 10 players – Rafael Nadal, John Isner and Zverev – plus former Top 5 Stan Wawrinka along the way to arguably his biggest title.

He had entered the event with just two wins on the season.

“It’s hopefully an example for people who are struggling and getting in some places you don’t think you can get out of. If I can do it, you can do it,” said Kyrgios who saved three match points in his win over Rafa. “I was really down and out and didn’t know what I was going to do, but you have a week like this and things can change.”

The 70th-ranked Kyrgios will move close to the Top 30 and an Indian Wells seeding thanks to the big week and his fifth career title, first since Brisbane at the start of 2018.

Zverev, who was bidding for an 11th career win, never found the form against the Australian, and at one point lashed out in a racquet-breaking tirade when he failed to convert break points in the first set.

“If you beat four players like that in an 500 tournament, you deserve to win it. He’s the real champion of this week,” said Zverev. “Everybody needs to give credit to the people that deserve it, and this week proved to be the best player.”

Zverev came back later to win the doubles title with brother Mischa.

Kyrgios now leads Zverev 4-3 in their head-to-head. Both will now travel to Indian Wells.