Kyrgios topples Raonic to set up Gasquet clash
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AUSTRALIA’S controversial Nick Kyrgios and Frenchman Richard Gasquet set up a Wimbledon last-16 clash after knocking out last year’s semifinalists Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov yesterday.
Kyrgios, who famously defeated Rafael Nadal in 2014 when he was ranked 144 in the world, avenged his quarterfinal loss of 12 months ago to Raonic with a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-3 third-round victory over the seventh seed.
The 20-year-old Kyrgios hit 34 aces and blasted 61 winners. “I lost my focus a bit towards the end of the first set, but I knew what my game plan was and I stuck to it. I toughed it out,” he said.
“Last year I tried to hit too many winners off his serve. This time I went to the chipped approach and it worked.”
Kyrgios faces another rematch in the fourth round against Gasquet after beating him in a dramatic five-setter in the second round last year.
“Last year I came from two sets down against him, but he is a savvy veteran and beat Dimitrov in straight sets today so he must be playing well,” said the 26th-seeded Australian.
Gasquet, a semifinalist in 2007 and seeded 21 this year, brushed aside the 11th-seeded Bulgarian 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Dimitrov had defeated 2013 champion Andy Murray on his way to the semifinals last year, but Friday’s defeat extended a disappointing grand slam season for the 24-year-old Bulgarian who was beaten in the fourth round at the Australian Open before a first-round exit at Roland Garros.
Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka reached the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over Fernando Verdasco for his first win over the Spaniard in 10 years.
French Open champion Wawrinka will take on Belgium’s David Goffin for a place in the quarterfinals.
Goffin, the 16th seed, became only the fourth Belgian man to make the fourth round in the Open Era by defeating 2006 semifinalist Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
It was 24-year-old Goffin’s first win over the Cypriot in four meetings and he has now equalled his best performance at the majors after also making the last 16 at the 2012 French Open as a lucky loser.
“I knew I had the game to make some results on grass that I didn’t in the past. This year I came from the clay, I came with a lot of confidence on grass,” said Goffin who made the final on grass at ‘s-Hertogenbosch last month.
Coco Vandeweghe, one of six American women in the third round, reached the last 16 at a slam for the first time with a 6-2, 6-0 stroll past 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur.
It was a second grand slam win of the season for world No. 47 Vandeweghe against the Australian after also coming out on top at the Australian Open in January.
Teenager Belinda Bencic became the first Swiss woman into the fourth round since Patty Schnyder in 2007 when she defeated American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands 7-5, 7-5.
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