Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has reached the China Open quarter-finals. No. 8 seed Kyrgios found a way to beat world No. 27 Mischa Zverev in Beijing 3-6 6-2 6-2. The head-to-head record between the two now stands at 1-1.
Zverev converted his first break point of the match to open up a 3-1 lead. The German then routinely held on to his serve to win the first set. Kyrgios had 30-0 on Zverev's serve in the ninth game but lost the next four points and the set, eventually.
Kyrgios bounced back in style, opening the second set with a 3-0 lead.
Both players held on to their serves until the eighth game. Kyrgios saved Zverev's game point before he broke the German to force a decider.
The third set was no different than the second set. Kyrgios again got off to a good start, opening a 3-0 third set lead. The No. 8 seed broke Zverev once again in the eighth game to seal the win.
Kyrgios fired 11 aces and won 84 percent of his first serve points during the match. Kyrgios dominantly converted each of his four break point chances on Wednesday. Zverev's only break point of the match came in the fourth game of the first set. The match came to an end after an hour and 21 minutes of action.
Kyrgios plays Darcis next
Kyrgios is now set to meet qualifier Steve Darcis at the China Open.
Belgium's Darcis outclassed qualifier Dusan Lajovic in the China Open second round 6-3 6-4. It was the first-ever meeting between Darcis and Lajovic at the ATP level.
Darcis broke Lajovic in the sixth game to open up a 4-2 lead. Darcis held on to his serve the rest of the set to clinch the opener. Serb Lajovic didn't have a single break point during the set.
Lajovic was close to starting the second set with a 2-0 lead. But, he failed to do so, as Darcis saved four break points to make it 1-1. Darcis then broke Lajovic in the fifth game to open a 3-2 lead. Lajovic saved a match point in the ninth game to prolong the match. Darcis dominantly served out to love in the following game to book straight sets win.
Darcis won 78 percent of his first serve points during the match. Darcis broke Lajovic twice and saved each four of the Serb's break point chances. It took an hour and 12 minutes for the clash to come to an end.
Darcis hoping for an upset
Kyrgios and Darcis will be meeting for the second time ever when the clash off at the China Open. Australia's Kyrgios beat Belgian Darcis in the Davis Cup World Group semi-finals this past September. Darcis pushed Kyrgios to the distance but fell in a five-setter, eventually. It remains to be seen can qualifier Darcis pull off an upset and beat Kyrgios.
