First-Time Winner Spotlight: Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios upset fourth seed Marin Cilic 6-2, 7-6(3) on Sunday in the Open 13 final in Marseille to win his first ATP World Tour title.

The 20-year-old Australian – one of the Next Generation stars – did not lose serve in 47 games throughout the week and did not drop a set. He defeated two Top 10 players in No. 10 Richard Gasquet and No. 8 Tomas Berdych, plus a Grand Slam champion in Cilic.

It was Kyrgios’ second ATP World Tour final, after finishing runner-up on clay in Estoril last year.

Kyrgios spoke to ATPWorldTour.com after his victory.

How does it feel to win your first ATP World Tour title?

It feels good. It’s something that I’d never done before. To come here and win my first title is a good feeling. Hopefully there are plenty more to come.

This was your first tournament back since the Australian Open, are you a little bit surprised that you played so well after the lay-off?

I’m not surprised that I played well, but I am surprised I played at the level I was able to play at. I served really, really well. I was training hard back home and I was doing everything that I needed to be doing.

Did you go into your second ATP World Tour final with a different mind-set compared to Estoril last May?

I didn’t go in there with a different mind-set, but I definitely felt more confident. I hadn’t dropped a set going into the final so I just felt a lot more confident this time.

Talk about your play this week and what did you do to put together five wins for the first time, all in straight sets?

I served great and returned really, really well. I thought I moved really, really good. That’s the one thing in my game that’s improved a lot.

You had an incredible run, with back-to-back victories over Top 10 players – Gasquet in the quarter-finals and Berdych in the semi-finals – before beating Top 15 Cilic. Was this the best stretch of tennis you played in your career?

It was definitely up there. I thought I backed up three days in a row with some really top quality tennis. I haven’t played like that in a while. To come up with three straight wins against those players is pretty impressive. 

You won the title without losing serve. Is this the best serving of your career?

Yes, I think this week was probably the best serving of my career. It was constantly getting better and definitely got me out of pressure situations this week.

Now that you’ve won your first ATP World Tour title, what are your goals for the rest of the season?

Just to stay healthy and keep playing.

You’ve had solid results on all surfaces in your young career, do you have a favourite surface?

I probably like indoor hard court or grass. I’ve had my best results on those two surfaces. They’re probably my favourites.

You’ve had a lot of support in your development. Who are that people that have helped you get to this level and that you would like to acknowledge?

Obviously my family has been a big part. I’ve had a couple of coaches along the way as well.

You have a lot of off-court interests and a pretty solid hoops game. If you weren’t playing tennis, what would you like to be doing?

Obviously I’d like to play basketball, but I’d probably be at school or university at the moment.