“I thought my ship had sailed,” he admitted after defeating Chile’s Christian Garin. “I didn’t do great things at the beginning of my career.” When indicated that he was in control, Kygrius shook his head. “I felt like I was playing on the back foot too much,” he replied. “I was lucky on some break points. I’ll take it.” Nick Kyrgios goes down for a low ball. Photo: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Kyrgios being this, it was rare that five minutes went by when he wasn’t frustrated with his box or annoyed with the crowd. Several times he asked his team for more, even though they continued to applaud. But once again he found a way to win. “I don’t have a coach, I would never put that burden on someone,” he admitted afterwards. “Everyone in my team plays a part, but nobody knows my game better than me. I’ve been playing this sport since I was seven, so it’s great to reach a grand slam semi-final.” Kyrgios is due to appear in court in Australia next month after being charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend. However, he retained the support of the majority of the Court One crowd. However, the match could hardly have started worse for him. Kyrgios’ serve is one of the strongest in the game. However, his Chilean opponent immediately dropped a forehand winner in front of him, and then another, to fall to love. Garin then held on to go 2-0 up and Kyrgios looked visibly rattled. “Come on, Kings!” his team called from the stands. “Don’t say that,” he replied before calling for more energy from those in his box. But after finally getting on the board after two aces – at 126 and 131mph – he then broke to make it 3-3 before breaking again to take the set. From then on, the match became almost as exhausting for Kyrgios’ entourage as it was for him. Because after every point, win or lose, they had to stand up to applaud their man before squatting back in their seats. Up and down and up, shaking their heads, urging him on. Kyrgios’ body might be a little sore when he wakes up tomorrow. But so, you imagine, will be the legs of his father George and sister Halimah, along with manager Daniel Horsfall, personal physio Will Maher and girlfriend Costeen Hatzi. After an early break in the second set, Garin’s legs began to look a little heavy, the legacy of his epic five-set win over Alex De Minaur, and it would have been easy for him to fall away. Instead, he came close to the break at 1-3 and 2-4 – with Kyrgios’ serve. In the third set, Garin improved again – hitting 13 winners on an unforced error – a double fault – as the set went to a tiebreak. He was playing better tennis. But Kyrgios’ serve proved to be the great equalizer. It looked all over the place as Kyrgios grabbed a mini break to take a 2-0 lead into the tiebreak. But there was another upset as Garin won five of the next six points to go 5-3 up. However, the Chilean then drew a forehand on his serve and missed a pass and Kygrios was able to take advantage – and go ahead.
