Australian Open: Nick Kyrgios with a tweener serve and a good record against Medvedev
Nick Kyrgiosmeets Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open 2022 on Thursday. The man from Canberra has won the two previous encounters.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jan 18, 2022, 04:07 pm
Nick Kyrgios and his serve: This was an issue both in his opening match at the Australian Open 2022 against Liam Broady (Kyrgios served once through his legs) and at the last meeting with Daniil Medvedev in the summer of 2019. There Kyrgios let himself go by a spectator whisper in your ear where to serve at match point. The Australian did as he was told - and won the ATP Tour 500 event in the US capital.
Since then, however, Medvedev has enjoyed a rapid rise, crowned by winning the US Open last year. Kyrgios, on the other hand, ended his 2021 season with an uninspired appearance at the Laver Cup in Boston, and the comeback at one of the preparatory tournaments in recent weeks was canceled due to a corona infection. Seen in this way, the 6: 4, 6: 4 and 6: 3 against Liam Broady was almost surprisingly clear. The Brit finally gained match practice and self-confidence in qualifying.
Medvedev can become number one
Daniil Medvedev, on the other hand, hardly worked up a sweat against Henri Laaksonen, even though the number two of the tournament had to go through a tie-break in the third round. Medvedev has big plans in Melbourne, he could (like Alexander Zverev) take the lead in the ATP world rankings with a win in the first major of the year. But only in a few weeks. That is when Novak Djokovic loses his points for last year's victory (it started a little later in Melbourne).
Medvedev will go into the encounter with Kyrgios as a favorite, although the Russian has yet to find any success against the Canberra man. Because the premiere duel in Rome 2019 also went to Kyrgios. Incidentally, the love of ashes is extremely clear for both players.
Kyrgios also likes to play drop shots
In any case, the audience will get their money's worth. Should Nick Kyrgios not act at operating temperature for any reason, Daniil Medvedev would probably take on the role of provocateur. Better a full stadium that is against him than no atmosphere at all, Medvedev has often done well with this attitude.
It is by no means impossible that Kyrgios will unpack a serve from below in Thursday's game. After all, Medvedev is so far behind on the return that a short variant is almost imperative. Just like the well-groomed stop ball, which Kyrgios also has in his repertoire. And when should an underdog stand a chance against world number two if not in the early rounds?
Here is the individual tableau of the Australian Open 2022
laver arena