Cilic Comes Through Knee Injury Test As Kyrgios Stumbles
Muhammad Rameez Published January 09, 2019 | 02:44 PM
World number seven Marin Cilic tested a knee injury with the best possible result on Wednesday, but temperamental Nick Kyrgios' poor start to the season continued at the Kooyong Classic
Melbourne, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jan, 2019 ) :World number seven Marin Cilic tested a knee injury with the best possible result on Wednesday, but temperamental Nick Kyrgios' poor start to the season continued at the Kooyong Classic.
Former US Open champion Cilic, who led Croatia to a Davis Cup trophy in November, skipped last week's Maharashtra ATP tournament to rest.
The wait was worth it as he posted a gritty 6-3, 4-6, 15-13 win over Kevin Anderson, recovering from 2-7 down in the new final-set tiebreaker that will be used at the Australian Open for the first time next week.
Under the rules, the first player to win at least 10 points by a two-point margin takes the match.
Cilic, who was beaten by Roger Federer in an epic Australian Open final last year, said his knee was not a worry.
"The knee felt slightly more stiff than usual, maybe that's from a first match," he said.
"I need a few more days to play and train and hopefully reach 100 percent." Cilic added: "It took me some time to recover from the emotional end to last season with the Davis Cup.
"I'm feeling a bit rusty, but I'm hitting the ball well and feel on good form.
" South African world number six Anderson was battling jetlag after arriving in Melbourne following a title victory at the weekend in Pune, India.
He is also relaxed about his form heading into the first Grand Slam of the season next week.
"It's good to play a competitive match, it's the best way to acclimatise," he said.
"I want to be as healthy and fresh as possible heading into next week. This is my eighth match of the season, so I'm not worried about that." Kyrgios, who was knocked out in the second round at Brisbane last week, was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by friend and fellow comeback candidate Bernard Tomic in an all-Australian battle.
Tomic ended his victory with a flourish, sending over a sneaky serve on match point by hitting the ball between his legs for a winner -- a move which totally caught Kyrgios off guard.
"It was a lot of fun just to get back out there," the often edgy Kyrgios, who has slipped to 51 in the world, said. "It's great to see a good mate like Bernie having success again."The crowd-pleasing tune-up for the Australian Open was marked by good-natured competition.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From Sports
-
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
6 hours ago -
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
6 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
6 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results
8 hours ago -
Inaugurate of fitness gym at Ayum Stadium on 25th April
8 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
8 hours ago
-
Women’s One-Day tournament: Multan beat Rawalpindi, Quetta beat Peshawar, Lahore beat Karachi
8 hours ago -
Argentinian Etcheverry sees off Norrie to head into Barcelona Open semis
10 hours ago -
Pakistan all set to face New Zealand tomorrow
11 hours ago -
Duplantis to unleash 'inner' pole vault contest as Olympics beckon
11 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results
11 hours ago -
'All-or-nothing' Norris takes sprint pole in rain chaos at Chinese GP
12 hours ago