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ATP Cup q-final berth gives Aust options

3 minute read

Australia won't be forced to rush Nick Kyrgios back from injury after Greece's loss to Germany at the ATP Cup secured the hosts' quarter-final spot.

NICK KYRGIOS of Australia at the China National Tennis Centre in Beijing, China.
NICK KYRGIOS of Australia  at the China National Tennis Centre in Beijing, China. Picture: Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images

He looks fit but Australia are under no pressure to rush Nick Kyrgios back from injury after becoming the first team to reach the quarter-finals of the inaugural ATP Cup.

Kyrgios was a surprise withdrawal from Sunday's group stage win over Canada in Brisbane, with hometown favourite John Millman taking his place.

Greece's 2-1 loss to Germany later on Sunday secured Australia top spot in Group F and rendered Tuesday's clash with the Greeks a dead rubber for the hosts.

That means Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt could opt to give Kyrgios extra rest before heading to Sydney for the last eight, although the world No.29 completed a full practice session at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Monday.

"Back feels good," Kyrgios told Hewitt after a serve during the hour-long hitout.

While Kyrgios appears fit and healthy, Hewitt will be encouraged by world No.48 John Millman's performance in his stead against the Canadians.

Millman toppled world No.21 Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 6-2 to send the home crowd at Pat Rafter Arena into raptures.

While Tuesday's match-up with the Greeks has no bearing on Australia's progression, it does represent another chance for Australian top seed Alex de Minaur to continue his fine run of form.

De Minaur defeated Canada's world No.14 Denis Shapovalov 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 6-2 on Sunday after opening up his ATP Cup with a 4-6 7-6 (6-3) 6-2 win over German Alexander Zverev last Friday.

He'll face another top 10 player in world No.6 Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday.

The Greek star won his singles match against world No.7 Zverev but it wasn't enough for the Greeks to avoid a 2-1 loss to the Germans.

De Minaur and Tsitsipas have faced each other three times, with the Greek winning all three matches including a 6-3 6-4 win in their last meeting at the ATP Masters event in Paris last year.

"Yet again it's going to be another incredibly tough match," he said.

"Stefanos, he's got a heck of a lot of firepower, so I'm going to have to come out with my team and have a game plan to try and neutralise him and play my game as much as I can.

"I know it's going to be an incredibly tough match but that's the beauty of it.

"I've got another chance to go out there and just test myself and see what I can do."

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