Kyrgios Cruises Past De Minaur At Montreal Masters, Streak At 9, Now Faces Hurkacz
In an upset-riddled Montreal Masters, Nick Kyrgios continues to be the constant. The Australian improved to win streak to nine cruising past countryman and Atlanta winner Alex De Minaur in routine fashion 6-2, 6-3.
Kyrgios, who upset Daniil Medvedev yesterday, lost just five points on first serve while his counterpart won a total of five points on his second serve for the match. And after one set, he had 14 winners to just one single unforced error.
“Today was really hard mentally for me to go out here and play Alex,” said Kyrgios. “We’re such good friends and he’s been having such a good career so far and carrying the Australian flag for so long. It was just tough mentally. It’s never easy to play a player like that, especially if they’re Australian.
“I just got out here and got the job done. I played the way I had to play. He’s a hell of a player. If you play to his strengths, he’s one of the best players we have in the game and he’s so fast. He’s going to have a hell of a career.”
Kyrgios will now meet Hubert Hurkacz who beat the Australian in June in Halle.
The top two remaining seeds also advanced to a quarterfinal showdown. Casper Ruud came from a set down to defeat Roberto Bautista Agut 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-4.
“It was a tough battle. The first two sets were two hours and 20 minutes. Good intensity and I was feeling it a bit in the legs,” the French finalist told the crowd. “Luckily there was some rain, which gave me some time to breath out and regain some energy and I can thank the weather gods today, giving me some extra time and energy.”
Auger Aliassime kept Canada alive with a strong win over Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 to make his first home Masters quarterfinal.
“I have gone one step further than I did here three years ago. Montreal people are really proud people. We are a small community in the world. We support each other in what we do, especially in professional sport,” Auger-Aliassime told the crowd. “When you see an athlete come from the province of Quebec and do big things, people are very proud. It makes me proud to be in that position.”
After a big upset win over Stefanos Tsitsipas, young Brit Jack Draper moved on when Gael Monfils retired down a set but up 2-0 in the second due to his foot.
The qualifier will Pablo Carreno Busta who scored an good win over Jannik Sinner in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.
Tommy Paul, an upset winner over Carlos Alcaraz, kept going and will now meet Dan Evans who won in three over Taylor Fritz.
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