Richard Gasquet defeats Nick Kyrgios 6-2 6-1 in Cincinnati
Wednesday 19 August 2015 01:04, UK
Nick Kyrgios’ Cincinnati Masters campaign ended with more of a limp than his controversially explosive week in Montreal, as he slipped to a first-round defeat by Richard Gasquet.
The unpredictable Australian, who marred his reputation by muttering a personal slur to his opponent Stan Wawrinka last week in Canada, never recovered from an early back injury against Gasquet and lost 6-2 6-1.
After the 20-year-old was booed upon his arrival, things only got worse. Within the opening minutes he aggravated his back as he whipped a powerful forehand down the court.
Gasquet, the 12th seed in Ohio, was able to break early and built up a 4-1 lead before Kyrgios invited the trainer onto the court for a medical time-out.
By that point the writing appeared to be on the wall for Kyrgios whose serve was again broken as he dropped the first set within 29 minutes.
There was to be no comeback in the second set as Kyrgios was visibly inhibited by his injury, and was broken to go 3-1 down by his unforgiving French opponent.
Gasquet raced through his own serve before Kyrgios, whose seemed equally as waning as his physical capabilities, surrendered a 5-1 lead. The Australian mustered a late challenge, earning break point, but Gasquet fought it off and served himself into the next round where he will play Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Gasquet's win improves his career head-to-head record over Kyrgios to 4-1. It was their first meeting since Gasquet won at Wimbledon when Kyrgios stole the headlines for a bizarrely petulant display.
Meanwhile, left-hander Fernando Verdasco from Spain came from a set down to battle past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6 6-3 6-4 after two hours and 15 minutes, his first victory over the Frenchman Tsonga since the 2009 Australian Open quarter-finals.
In the battle of the highly-talented teenagers, Borna Coric defeated Alexander Zverev 7-5 3-6 7-6 (8-6) while there was disappointment for ninth-seeded Milos Raonic as he went down 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to Feliciano Lopez.
In the second round, Grigor Dimitrov beat Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6) and could next meet new world No 2 Andy Murray for a place in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
While reigning US Open champion Marin Cilic, seeded seventh in Cincinnati, came through with ease against Joao Sousa from Portugal, 6-4 6-2.
You can tune in to watch the Cincinnati Masters on Sky Sports all this week.
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