Brisbane: A much happier Nick Kyrgios sent Australia into the Davis Cup semi-finals when he beat American Sam Querrey in the first of the reverse singles in Brisbane yesterday.
Kyrgios’s 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-4 win gave the Australians an unassailable 3-1 lead over the US before John Isner won the dead rubber 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 over Sam Groth.
The controversial Kyrgios, whose on-court behaviour has led to a host of criticism from fellow players, commentators and fans, was the model of decorum and dedication in his two matches.
The 21-year-old revealed later that Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt had asked him to be the team’s leader and he had been happy to accept the challenge.
Kyrgios, who once confessed to not enjoying the game, said he was in a much better place now and his recent results reflected his mindset.
“I’m playing better, but I’m just in a happier place,” he said.
Meanwhile, David Goffin sent Belgium into their second Davis Cup semi-final in three years with a decisive victory over Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi in Charleroi.
Goffin’s 6-3 6-3 6-2 triumph in front of a boisterous home crowd gave Belgium a 3-1 lead and sent them into a home semi-final against Australia who also wrapped up victory over the United States thanks to Nick Kyrgios’s defeat of Sam Querrey.
Belgium, beaten by Britain in the 2015 final, had been one point away from beating Italy on Saturday only for Joris de Loore and Rubens Bemelmans to lose their doubles against Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi having had a matchpoint.
Any hope of an Italy comeback were snuffed out by Goffin though who was ruthless against Lorenzi as he took his record to 13 wins in 14 Davis Cup singles matches.