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Nick Kyrgios' 'ridiculous' act in brutal takedown of Alex de Minaur

andrew reid
·4-min read
Nick Kyrgios put on a first set masterclass in a dominant round of 16 win over Alex De Minaur at the Canadian Open. Pic: Getty/Tennis TV
Nick Kyrgios put on a first set masterclass in a dominant round of 16 win over Alex De Minaur at the Canadian Open. Pic: Getty/Tennis TV

A first set masterclass from Nick Kyrgios against Australian compatriot Alex de Minaur has helped the 27-year-old book his place in the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open.

A day after an impressive victory against World No.1 Daniil Medvedev, Kyrgios looked like a man on a mission as he downed de Minaur 6-2 6-3 in the round of 16.

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It was a brutal display from the Wimbledon runner-up, who extended his career-best run of form this season.

The 27-year-old's extraordinary level of tennis included an almost flawless first set in which he scorched his Aussie rival in just 23 minutes.

Kyrgios took a double break to race out to a 3-0 lead in the opening stanza, leaving his Aussie compatriot wondering what had hit him.

Kyrgios hit 14 winners and just one error during the opener, with some viewers describing it as the "perfect" set.

The Aussie's astonishing level of tennis left viewers gobsmacked on social media.

Kyrgios was on a roll and immediately broke his compatriot in the second set to keep the momentum going.

However, the 27-year-old suffered a rare blip on his own racquet as de Minaur grabbed the initiative back the very next game.

'The Demon' was struggling to find an effective rhythm on his serve and soon found himself 3-1 down as Kyrgios once again turned the screws.

With Kyrgios looking almost impregnable on his own serve and de Minaur anything but, Kyrgios quickly jumped out to a 5-2 lead.

The Wimbledon runner-up took out his frustrations at his player box after de Minaur enjoyed a rare break of serve.

Seen here, Australia's Nick Kyrgios prepares to serve the ball at the Canadian Open in Montreal.
Australia's Nick Kyrgios prepares to serve the ball at the Canadian Open in Montreal. Pic: Getty

Nick Kyrgios storms into Canadian Open quarter-finals

However, Kyrgios ramped up the pressure again on de Minaur's again, winning the next game to love to take his place in the quarter-finals in style.

The win takes Kyrgios into the ATP top 30 and more importantly, into the seeded spots for the upcoming US Open.

The red-hot Wimbledon runner-up is projected to rise from 37th to No.27 in the standings and could crack the world's top 15 if he backs up last week's success in Washington with an eighth career title on Sunday.

That would secure Kyrgios a crucial top-16 seeding in New York, ensuring the 27-year-old wouldn't play a higher-ranked rival until at least the second week at the season's final grand slam.

Kyrgios's more immediate focus is Hubert Hurkacz for a place in the semi-finals for a sixth tournament running outside of an injury-enforced withdrawal in Mallorca the week before Wimbledon.

Hurkacz beat Kyrgios two months ago on the Halle grass courts and advanced to the last eight on Thursday with a fighting 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 7-6 (7-3) third-round win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

Earlier, fourth seed Casper Ruud advanced to the quarters with a 6-7 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win over Roberto Bautista Agut.

Ruud is the highest seed left in the singles draw following the demise of the top three seeds - Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas - on Wednesday.

with AAP

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