Kyrgios Disarms Raonic In Miami

Nick Kyrgios, in his ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarter-final debut, overcame big-serving Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6(4) at the Miami Open presented by Itau on Thursday. Kyrgios converted one of six break points and became the only man to break the Canadian in Miami. He will face Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals.

“I really learned how to return this year,” Kyrgios said. “That definitely set the tone early in the match, and helped me win the first set with that break in hand. That’s the major thing this year. I am giving myself so many more chances and getting so many more opportunities to take over matches.”

Kyrgios showed that he was more than a power hitter, reading Raonic’s serve smartly and restricting his opponent to four aces in the one-hour, 44-minute encounter. He also took care of his own service games, firing eight aces and saving all five break points faced.

The Next Generation star is the first Australian since mentor Lleyton Hewitt (2002 – l. to Federer) to make the final four in Miami. He will also crack the Top 20 Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time next Monday, becoming the youngest player to achieve the feat since Marin Cilic did so in September 2009.

“Kei is one of the greatest players in the world at the moment,” said Kyrgios of his semi-final opponent, who beat him in their lone previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting last year. “He has an unbelievable return of serve, moves unbelievably fast, hits big from the baseline, and doesn’t have many weaknesses.

“When I played him in Shanghai I didn’t really do too much wrong. He just played a really well in the big moments. I definitely had chances. I know what my game plan is going to be. It’s going to be a tough match, but I’m looking forward to it. He’s a great guy.”

Kyrgios is now 14-3 on the year, while Raonic falls to 17-3). The pair’s FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry is deadlocked at 2-2.