TOKYO: Nick Kyrgios roared back from a “frustrating” first set on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the Japan Open, defeating Polish player Kamil Majchrzak 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Despite his slow start, the maverick Australian emerged victorious in typical crowd-pleasing style, showing off with aggressive aces and some exaggeratedly effortless points.

The 27-year-old said that despite Majchrzak breaking his serve, there was “never really doubt in my mind that I was going to win”.

Kyrgios will face either third-seeded US player Taylor Fritz or Japan’s Hiroki Moriya in the quarter-finals.

Earlier, Frances Tiafoe secured a spot in the quarter-finals, beating Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-1, 7-6 (9-7). He will face Miomir Kecmanovic in the last eight, after the Serb beat Britain’s Dan Evans 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4).

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2022