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Australia’s number one ranking in the ATP is on the line this morning when Nick Kyrgios takes on Tommy Robredo in the third round of the US Open. Join The Roar for live commentary from 10:40am AEST.
If Kyrgios defeats Robredo this morning he will overtake Lleyton Hewitt in the rankings and be the new Australian number one.
Hewitt lost his 180 points from the US Open last year to be on 880 points after losing in the first round.
Kyrgios – who is on 860 points after his second-round win – can move to 950 points and overtake Hewitt as our best Aussie in the ATP World Tour. He would also move into the top 50 for the first time in his career – staggering considering he was ranked 840 in the world at the start of 2013.
His game, as illustrated in Wimbledon and in the US Open, can trouble many players.
His serve, his power, and his placement are extraordinary for a 19-year-old. Does he deserve to be the Australian number one? All signs point to yes.
At Grand Slam level he has been the best Australian performer. He is the only Aussie left at the US Open and was the last Aussie at Wimbledon when he made the quarter finals. He was also one of three Australians who made the second round of the Australian Open.
The only Grand Slam event he hasn’t been the best Aussie at was the French Open, when Marinko Matosevic made the second round. Kyrgios had an excuse though as he faced the world number eight, Milos Raonic, in the opening round.
His performances this year have warranted his rise to the top and he continues to prove the doubters wrong when they criticise aspects of his game.
This morning he builds on that momentum as he looks to make the fourth round against Robredo.
According to the bookies this is an even match-up, but I have Kyrgios as a slight favourite. His power will enable him to dictate the game and have the match on his racquet.
Kyrgios has won 15 of his 17 matches, including 6 wins and 1 loss at Grand Slam level. Robredo has won 10 of his last 14 matches including a win against Novak Djokovic at Cincinnati.
Robredo is good enough on his own to hit winners but if he is to win the match then he needs to nullify Kyrgios’ power, and make him produce errors during the contest.
Prediction
Kyrgios 3-1.
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