Kyrgios into biggest career final

Cincinnati, OH, USA, 20 August 2017 | AAP

Nick Kyrgios has surged into his first ATP World Tour Masters final in Cincinnati as excitement mounts about his US Open prospects.

A day after knocking over Ivo Karlovic and world No.1 Rafael Nadal within hours, Kyrgios beat Spanish veteran David Ferrer 7-6(3) 7-6(4) in the semifinals.

The 22-year-old Australian will play Grigor Dimitrov for the title after the Bulgarian tamed the big serve of John Isner to win 7-6(4) 7-6(10) in Saturday’s earlier semifinal.

“Obviously, I’m excited, but it’s just another tennis match to me,” Kyrgios said. “I’ll just go out and serve and whatever happens, happens. It’ll be a tough match.”

Gearing up for the US Open starting in just over week, world No.23 Kyrgios will be seeking his fourth and biggest tour title – the first at Masters 1000 level – following wins in Tokyo, Atlanta and Marseille last year.

Having struggled with hip and shoulder injuries in the past two months, he appears to be healthy, as evidenced by his twin wins on Saturday.

His only previous appearance in a Masters 1000 final came in Miami where he played a classic against Roger Federer before succumbing.

#CincyTennis @GrigorDimitrov vs @NickKyrgios is 1st #ATPMasters1000 final between 1st-time M1000 finalists since 2002 Toronto Canas/Roddick.

— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) August 20, 2017

Kyrgios fired down 14 aces to Ferrer’s one but still needed a little over two hours to see off the speedy Spaniard.

“He served really good,” the 31st-ranked Ferrer said. “I didn’t have chance in the second tiebreak. In important moments with the second serve, he played aggressive.”

Dimitrov beat Kyrgios in three sets in their only previous meeting at Indian Wells in 2015.