Nick Kyrgios claimed Australia’s dramatic ATP Cup victory over Great Britain ranked as one of the best moments of his career after helping Alex De Minaur defeat Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury in the decisive doubles rubber.
An intense encounter went to the wire before Australia eventually prevailed 3-6 6-3 18-16 to advance to the semi-finals and a meeting with either Belgium or Spain.
Australia had to wait to celebrate, with Britain challenging whether Kyrgios’ serve landed on the service line after Salisbury missed a backhand return on Australia’s fifth match point, but once confirmed De Minaur and Kyrgios collapsed into an embrace on court.
🇦🇺 #TeamAustralia = first into the semifinals!@alexdeminaur/@NickKyrgios put on a gusty performance to outlast Murray/Salisbury 3-6 6-3 [18-16] and punch the final four ticket.#ATPCup | #Final8 | #GBRAUS pic.twitter.com/d7doEkPswn — ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 9, 2020
“It was unreal,” Kyrgios said on the ATP Cup website. “The adrenaline has kind of worn off and I’m exhausted after that match. It was awesome.
“Today was probably one of the best moments in my career, definitely. Just making it through to the semi-final, the first-ever ATP Cup in that type of fashion, was pretty special… we genuinely care for each other, and (our team-mates) were genuinely just so ecstatic to get through.”
Speaking on court in the immediate aftermath, Kyrgios had joked he would need “a bit of red wine” to unwind after such a dramatic encounter.
“That was probably the most stressful tiebreak I’ve ever played in my life,” the 24-year-old said.
Britain had four match points of their own, but Murray was left to rue a missed backhander on top of the net.
“I missed that shot basically on top of the net, which was ridiculous,” he said. “We hung in and we did well. We just couldn’t quite get the last point. Yeah, we lost. I mean, that was it.”
Earlier Dan Evans had beat De Minaur in the first singles match to force the decisive doubles contest, winning 7-6 (4) 4-6 7-6 (2) in a marathon contest which lasted three hours and 24 minutes.
“That’s why I play sport is for occasions like that. I enjoyed it,” Evans said. “It hurt a bit, but I enjoyed every minute of it out there.
“Hopefully everyone in the crowd enjoyed it, as well. I was just proud to put a point on the board for the guys and we obviously didn’t, but it was hopefully to go out there and get the win and win the tie, but that’s the way it goes.”
Game, set and Semi-Final! @DaniilMedwed def. Diego Schwartzman 6-4 4-6 6-3 to secure a place in the inaugural #ATPCup Semi-Finals for 🇷🇺 #TeamRussia.#ARGRUS pic.twitter.com/mcO3FSaMp8 — ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 9, 2020
Russia also reached the semi-finals after singles victories for Karen Khachanov and Daniil Medvedev against Argentina.
Khachanov was a straightforward 6-2 7-6 (4) winner against Guido Pella but there was no shortage of drama in the clash between Medvedev and Diego Schwartzman.
Medvedev angrily confronted Schwartzman after winning the first set, prompting umpire Mohamed Lahyani to jump down from his chair and intervene before giving the Russian a warning.
It's all getting a bit spicy in Sydney… 🌶 😳#ATPCup pic.twitter.com/IgCt1KLEnD — Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 9, 2020
After dropping serve in the second set, Medvedev confronted Lahyani about his decision, earning a point penalty for whacking his racket twice against the umpire’s chair.
But Medvedev regained his composure in the decider to win 6-4 4-6 6-3, with the victory ensuring he will be among the top four seeds at the Australian Open.
Russia will face either Serbia or Canada in the last four.
