“That’s all it came down to. He won the first set and I feel like I had opportunities there as well so hopefully I can keep this rolling.”
Kyrgios, who faces Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur next for a quarter-final spot, isn’t getting carried away despite firming as one of the US Open favorites following his rousing victory over last year’s Flushing Meadows champion.
“Look, a grand slam is much, much different from any other tournament,” he said.
“If I was in this position of a grand slam, you’ve still got to win another set and that’s not easy at all. He’s a machine.
“He’s the best player in the world for a reason and at a grand slam he’s a totally different beast.”
Nevertheless, Kyrgios continues to make a mockery of the rankings and the 27-year-old’s latest triumph all but secured the Canberran an all-important seeding for the New York major starting on August 29.
“I feel confident in my body and my mentality going in to the US Open but at the same time there’s so much time between then and now,” Kyrgios said.
Kyrgios next faces countryman Alex de Minaur for the first time.Credit:The Canadian Press
“I’ve got to focus on this event and then Cincinnati. There’s so many things I’ve got to look forward to. I’m not even going to think about the US Open right now.
“I need to take care of my body.”
De Minaur set up a first-time meeting with Kyrgios with a 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 second-round win over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the 15th seed.
In the women’s draw, world No.1 Iga Swiatek sailed past Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-2 while American Coco Gauff outlasted Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 6-4, 6-7 (10-8) 7-6 (7-3 ) in a marathon second-round clash.
Ajla Tomljanovic proved no match for the world No.1 in Toronto.Credit:Getty
Tomljanovic showed a glimmer of life as the two traded breaks in the second set but the two-time French Open winner found her footing in the fifth game before wrapping up her 19th straight win on hard courts.
Elsewhere, world No.4 Carlos Alcaraz’s game inexplicably unraveled as he blew a match point before being beaten 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 by American Tommy Paul.
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Alcaraz stood on the cusp of victory when he earned a match point during the second set tiebreak but once Paul saved it, the 19-year-old Spaniard’s challenge faded as he struggled to overcome the disappointment of not wrapping up the match in straight sets.
The American, who won his sole ATP title at the Stockholm Open last year, fired off 14 winners in the third set.
Although Alcaraz saved four match points in the decider, he could not deny Paul from completing one of the biggest wins in his career.
Paul clinched it at the net in the next game, offering up a subdued celebration.
AAP, Reuters
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