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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Roar Guru
Tough luck for Nick, a third consecutive match against a veteran of men's tennis after defeating Youzhny and Seppi in the first two rounds. It's worth noting that all three of his opponents' combined ages is just over 90!
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
So Hewitt holds on to the Australian number 1 ranking and Kyrgios is beaten by Robredo in a match where he will learn a lot from the defeat. That is all from me in the live blog. Thanks for joining in and being involved in it. I'll be back later in the week for more live blogs on the Roar. Until then, it is bye for now.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
We all have to remember that Kyrgios is only 19 years old. He showed us what he is capable of, but he also showed us the inexperience, and the inconsistency that is still big in his play. Australia - and America - got another big taste of what Kyrgios can do. He is going to be big in the future but he will still need plenty of time and patience to deliver on the potential.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
After the first set it was all Robredo, who dictated the match, by not giving Kyrgios an inch in the match. He made just 15 unforced errors for the match. The last three sets he made only 8 errors. He forced Kyrgios to make the shots, and the clutch serves, to get past him. He couldn't and made too many errors along the way. His second serve was also attacked. 47 unforced errors and just 13 points won on the second serve tells the story of the match.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Tommy Robredo beats Nick Kyrgios 3-6 6-3 7-6 6-3 in the third round of the US Open.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Three match points for Robredo.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Kyrgios holds serve to 30. Robredo will serve for the match.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
He can't move now. This game will end quickly. Robredo holds to love for a 5-2 lead. This is a repeat of the match at the Australian Open when he cramped against Paire.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Kyrgios holds serve to 30 but is starting to cramp up. He is struggling in the quads. 4-2 to Robredo.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
What a shot by Robredo. He gets forced to the net by Kyrgios - with a drop shot - who then lobs over Robredo's head. Instead of doing a tweener, he spins around, and smacks the forehand down the line. 15-15.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Robredo holds to 15 and now leads 4-1. Kyrgios has hit 10 unforced errors in this set.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Kyrgios holds serve but he only just does it. He raced to a 40-0 lead then it went back to deuce. He needed another two game points to hold serve. Robredo leads 3-1.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Robredo holds to 15 and races to a 3-0 lead. Here is the test for the young Aussie. Can he re-focus and find the form from the first set. Time is running out to do that.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Kyrgios is broken to love and Robredo leads 2-0. The Aussie has made 4 unforced errors already in this set.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Make that 0-40. Robredo has 3 break points.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Big trouble for Kyrgios. Robredo has 0-30 on his serve. This has been a poor 10 minutes by the Aussie.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Robredo holds to 30 to start the fourth set.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
THIRD SET STATS: ACES - Kyrgios 3 Robredo 1 DOUBLE FAULTS - Kyrgios 0 Robredo 2 1st SERVES - Kyrgios 25/37 Robredo 26/38 1st SERVE POINTS WON - Kyrgios 22/25 Robredo 21/26 2nd SERVE POINTS WON - Kyrgios 4/12 Robredo 8/12 WINNERS - Kyrgios 18 Robredo 13 UNFORCED ERRORS - Kyrgios 10 Robredo 6 BREAK POINT CONVERSIONS - 0 for the whole set. The second serve of Kyrgios is starting to become a worry. He has won only 5 points in the last two sets. Robredo has won 16 points on his 2nd serve during that time.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Robredo does just that and takes the third set in a tiebreaker. He wins the tiebreaker 7 points to 4. Kyrgos just lost the boil after leading 4-3 in the tiebreaker. The Spaniard is one set away from the match.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Robredo then wins the next point and has a 5-4 lead. He has the set on his racquet if he can win the next two points on his serve.