Nick Kyrgios Just Laid Down The Performance Of His Career In Tokyo

In lifting the Japan Open trophy on Sunday, Nick Kyrgios claimed the biggest title of his career – his first at ATP 500 level – and the most significant for an Aussie male in a dozen years.

It was a stellar week for the 20-year-old, aptly hashtagged #NKRising, who arrived in the Land of the Rising Sun with new fitness coach Martin Skinner and with him, a seemingly renewed sense of clarity and purpose. His mother and sister Halimah – who is living and working as an actress in Tokyo – were also by his side throughout the week.

Skinner is a relative unknown on the ATP Tour, he has previous worked with Brits Aljaz Bedene and Tara Moore, but his gig with Kyrgios will certainly be the most high-profile.

His influence seemed to be immediate, cutting a calm and mindful figure in the stands as his charge sliced his way through the Rakuten Open draw. After taking the title, Kyrgios was quick to give Skinner credit.

The Aussie was in cruise mode early in the week, making his way through the opening rounds with little fanfare. His first round against American qualifier Ryan Harrison only notable for the fact that during a break in play, he tossed a water bottle up into the stands to a spectator who had fallen ill.

His serve was irrepressible – a trend that continued until the final against David Goffin, where his perfect record was blemished by a single break in the opening set.

Next up was close friend and sometime mentor Radek Stepanek, a man who has been touted in some circles as potentially coaching Kyrgios at some point in the future.

"I'm dreading it," Kyrgios said of the upcoming match against the wily 37-year-old. As it was, the match never came to pass after the Czech withdrew, handing Kyrgios a free ride into the quarterfinals.

Tough one on Radek today, no secret how close we are. Wish him a full and speedy recovery. On to the next one — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios)October 6, 2016

With top seed and Japanese superstar Kei Nishikori also an early casualty with injury, Kyrgios was clearly becoming a fan favourite – a status he seemed to enjoy, soaking up the admiration and duly converting it into energy and confidence on court.

The quarterfinal against Gilles Muller was where Kyrgios really began to step it up, both in performance and entertainment. Kyrgios was sublime on return, completely disarming the huge Muller serve and all the while adding some typical Kyrgios flair, which included "out-tweenering" Muller in a sensational rally that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The straight sets win set up a mouth-watering match-up which had been long-anticipated on the ATP Tour. Kyrgios was set to meet second seed Gael Monfils – two of the game's great entertainers would face-off for the first time since their Davis Cup encounter in 2014.

The match did not disappoint, and possibly provided the point of the year so far, with both players stretched to their limit and digging deep into their bag of tricks to provide an incredible spectacle for those inside Ariake Colosseum.

In the end, Kyrgios simply proved too good for the Frenchman, winning 6-4 6-4, their warm interaction at net post-match an indicator of the respect he holds for the flamboyant Frenchman.

The final saw Kyrgios play David Goffin, the higher-ranked Belgian upsetting Marin Cilic in a semifinal and looking in impressive form himself.

After a flawless first set from Goffin, Kyrgios remained composed, continuing to ply on the pressure (he hit 23 aces for the match) and despite sitting on the verge of a break early in the second set, he eventually wore down his opponent, setting himself up with a string of opportunities on return.

Unable to convert, the stage looked set for Kyrgios to drop his bundle, but what unfolded was hopefully a tantalising glimpse of the future. The Aussie kept pressing and it paid dividends. He squared up the contest at a set apiece.

Again in the last set, Kyrgios found something extra within and broke Goffin in the penultimate game before serving it out to take the title.

Shanghai bound now and back to it all over again. No time to stop and savour anything. — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios)October 9, 2016

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