• “To see where I was at last year to now, it’s just an incredible transformation,” said the 27-year-old.
• Meanwhile, Russia’s Daria Kasatkina beat Shelby Rogers 6-7 (2-7) 6-1 6-2 to win the Silicon Valley Classic in California.
Image: FILE
Nick Kyrgios says the past year has been “an incredible transformation” after he beat Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka to win the Citi Open and claim his first ATP Tour title since 2019.
The Australian, runner-up at Wimbledon last month, won 6-4 6-3 and did not drop serve in the entire tournament.
“To see where I was at last year to now, it’s just an incredible transformation,” said the 27-year-old.
He climbs from 63rd to 37th in the ATP rankings with his seventh career title. His previous win three years ago came at the same tournament.
Adding that he been in some “really dark places”, Kyrgios continued: “There are so many people who have helped me get there, but myself, I’ve shown some serious strength to just continue and persevere and get through all those times and be able to still perform and win tournaments like this one.”
Kyrgios will return to the court on Monday to play alongside American Jack Sock in the men’s doubles final. The next Grand Slam event, the US Open, begins on 29 August in New York.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Daria Kasatkina beat Shelby Rogers 6-7 (2-7) 6-1 6-2 to win the Silicon Valley Classic in California.
It is the 25-year-old’s first title since she came out as gay last month in an interview criticising her country’s attitude to homosexuality, and calling for an end to the war in Ukraine.
Homosexuality is not illegal in Russia but the spreading of “gay propaganda” among minors is prohibited and homophobia is widespread.
Kasatkina praised her team’s support.
“Thank you for always being next to me — in good and hard times,” she said. “Thank you for always supporting me, and sometimes arguing with me but just to help me — I love you guys.”
Kasatkina’s win over American world number 30 Rogers is her first WTA Tour title of the year and fifth of her career.
The new world number nine, who made the semi-finals of the French Open but missed Wimbledon because of the ban on Russian players, returns to the top 10 for the first time since 2019.