Coric And Kyrgios Set #NextGen Clash

#NextGen stars Borna Coric and Nick Kyrgios are on a collision course at the Millennium Estoril Open after both won their second-round matches on Wednesday. Coric, the sixth seed, took out Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, while the second-seeded Kyrgios overcame Inigo Cervantes 7-6(4), 7-5.

Coric, No. 40 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, overcame the loss of the second set to defeat his Brazilian opponent in two hours and eight minutes. The 19 year old improved to 13-11 on the year.

“In the first set I was playing high to his backhand, and it worked perfectly,” Coric said. “In the second set, I was a bit more defensive and he surprised me with his good play. I didn’t feel like I could hurt him.

“[Adjusting] my court position was key. Automatically my shots became more aggressive when I stepped in. In the third set, I was more offensive.”

Nick Kyrgios, who turned 21 on Wednesday, gave himself the gift of a quarter-final berth in Estoril with a straight-set win over Spaniard Cervantes in the pair’s first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting. The 2015 finalist served well, landing 75 per cent of first serves and hitting nine aces.

After the match, he was surprised by tournaments organizers, who brought out a cake and showed a tribute video featuring several close friends. “It’s one of the best presents I’ve ever received,” Kyrgios said.

“It will be an enjoyable match for sure,” said Coric of the upcoming clash against the World No. 20. “[Kyrgios] is the favourite so I have nothing to lose. But I’ll never come into a match with the mindset that I can’t win. I’ll do my best but I’ll be there to win.”

“It’s going to be a tough match,” Kyrgios said. “[Coric] has been playing well.”

Britain’s Kyle Edmund, the other #NextGen player in the Estoril draw, was eliminated by Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.

Home Team Advances In Doubles

Portuguese Gastao Elias and Joao Sousa made a winning start at their home tournament by downing Rogerio Dutra Silva and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 6-0 in under one hour. Elias/Sousa hit five aces and saved all three break points faced. In the quarter-finals, they will face top seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcin Matkowski.

Second seeds Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 victory against Italians Thomas Fabbiano and Paolo Lorenzi. Huey/Mirnyi, who teamed to win in Acapulco in February, improved to 17-7 on the year.