Marseille: Kyrgios cuts swathe through draw

Australian Nick Kyrgios has reached the final of the Marseille Open after sending down 15 aces to steamroll second-seed Tomas Berdych in straight sets.

The big-serving Australian won 93 per cent of his first-serve points and did not face a break point in the 70-minute 6-4 6-2 semifinal victory.

Kyrgios’ win avenged his Australian Open loss to Berdych and the 20-year-old has now recorded consecutive wins over players in the top 10 ATP rankings after defeating Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals.

Sunday’s final against Croatian Marin Cilic promises to be a powerful affair with Cilic, playing in Marseille for the first time in five years, firing 22 aces to defeat Benoit Paire 6-2 6-7(3) 6-3 in their semi.

The world No.12 dropped serve only once in the two-hour match to set up only his second meeting with Kyrgios, Cilic winning the previous encounter at the 2013 French Open.