Kuhn Announces Arrival In Style

Just two days after turning 18 years old, Nicola Kuhn gave himself the best birthday gift possible — the #NextGenATP Spaniard defeated qualifier Darian King 7-6 (4), 6-4, in one hour and 42 minutes at the Miami Open presented by Itau to become the youngest Spaniard to win an ATP World Tour match since 17-year-old Rafael Nadal defeated a 17-year-old Richard Gasquet in the second round at 2004 Estoril.

And not only was this the Spaniard’s first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 main-draw match, but it was Kuhn’s second tour-level match overall. 

“This is a special day for me,” Kuhn said following his win on Court 7 in Miami. “It was a very tough match. I’m happy with today’s victory, but now I need to focus on my next match.”

Kuhn, who will play No. 15 seed Fabio Fognini, isn’t the first Spaniard to clinch his inaugural ATP World Tour victory this year. In January, Ricardo Ojeda Lara defeated Jiri Vesely 6-3, 7-6(5) to earn his first win; Carlos Taberner notched his maiden win one month later by defeating Norbert Gombos 7-6(5), 7-6(1) at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.

Kuhn has been in form since claiming his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title at Braunschweig in July 2017. He credits his work off the court to his success and insists that his work ethic will lift him to future triumphs.

“I’ve put in my time over the years to get to where I am,” Kuhn said. “People here [on the ATP World Tour] have a lot more experience than I have. I have to play matches, learn — whether I win or lose — and ultimately seize opportunities and give my all.”

Kuhn knows that while his triumph was one he won’t forget, he will keep pushing himself to play his very best.

“The key is to just go out there at every tournament and see what’s my limit,” Kuhn said. “Playing [Fognini] will be tough, but I can make it interesting. I just want to enjoy myself out there.”