Dimitrov too strong for Kyrgios in Cincinnati final

Published by Matt Trollope

Grigor Dimitrov claimed the biggest title of his career with a straight sets win over Nick Kyrgios. Photo: Getty Images
In a battle between Masters final debutants, Grigor Dimitrov had too much variety and consistency for Nick Kyrgios in a stellar performance in Cincinnati.

Grigor Dimitrov has claimed his first ATP Masters title with a superlative display in the Cincinnati final against Nick Kyrgios.

The Bulgarian, seeded seventh at the Western & Southern Open, beat the unseeded Aussie 6-3 7-5 to win the biggest title of his career.

Dimitrov did not drop a set all week in the Midwest, sealing victory in under 90 minutes.

“I’m just happy and I’m humbled to have that trophy in my hands, and especially to win here, my first Masters 1000. It’s just amazing. I always like this tournament,” Dimitrov said.

“Going to the (US) Open, it’s for sure a lot of positivity with it, but the most important thing now is just to stay grounded, keep on doing the same work, believe in myself, and just prepare the best way that I can for the Open.”

Kyrgios’s vaunted serve showed glimpses of the damage it could cause, – Kyrgios finished the match with 15 aces to six – but Dimitrov read it better than Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer had in previous rounds, and neutralised it accordingly.

While Kyrgios was the first to earn a break point in the fifth game, Dimitrov saved that as part of a three game run that saw him break the Aussies serve in the following game and build a 5-2 lead.

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His athleticism and retrieving abilities proved decisive, extending rallies in his favour and forcing the increasingly frustrated Kyrgios to go for too much.

By that stage, Dimitrov had already won 14 of 17 points duked out from the baseline.

That pattern would continue in the second set after Dimitrov served out the first in a love game, although Kyrgios settled into a better rhythm on serve.

In the seventh game, Kyrgios stared down two break points and saved both with viciously kicking serves out wide to Dimitrov’s backhand; one was an ace, the other extracted a return error.

He held for 4-3, but by this stage his backhand had leaked 13 unforced errors, and a few games later, Dimitrov took a 13-1 lead in extended rallies lasting nine shots or more.

Kyrgios needed his serve to stay alive, and in the penultimate game, it failed him. The 22-year-old coughed up an unsightly three double faults, and when facing break point, sent a forehand long to surrender serve.

Serving for the title, there were few nerves from Dimitrov, who fired a spectacular running forehand winner up the line for a 30-0 lead.

A few points later, when Kyrgios dumped a forehand into the net, the title was his.

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