Nick Kyrgios through to quarter-finals of the Brisbane International as Milos Raonic goes out
Wednesday 3 January 2018 17:00, UK
Nick Kyrgios overcame a knee scare to progress to the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International.
The Australian, who was making his first appearance on the circuit since October following shoulder, hip and knee injuries, called a medical timeout towards the conclusion of the first set against compatriot Matthew Ebden.
But despite dropping the opener, the 22-year-old recovered to win 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.
"It took me a while to get used to playing a match again," Kyrgios said after the encounter.
"I've been training here for so long and training on centre court, it kind of didn't feel like a match. The longer the match went, the better I played, the looser I got. I knew it was going to be a tough day today. He's a tough competitor."
The number three seed will face Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov, who beat Argentina's Horacio Zeballos 6-1 6-2.
Elsewhere, Canadian Milos Raonic suffered a surprise straight-sets defeat by Australian teenager Alex De Minaur.
The 18-year-old wildcard triumphed over the No 4 seed with a 6-4 6-4 victory in the day's concluding action at the Pat Rafter Arena to reach the last eight of an ATP event for the first time in his career and set up a clash with American teenager Michael Mmoh.
Mmoh, 19, earlier saved six break points and converted four of his own to upset eighth seed Mischa Zverev 6-2 5-7 6-4 for only his second victory on the ATP Tour.
In the women's event, world No 6 Elina Svitolina continued her charge as she eased past Croatia's Ana Konjuh and into the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-1 win.
Third seed Svitolina struck 17 winners and saved four break points, dismissing the 20-year-old ranked 44 in just over an hour to set up a clash with Britain's Johanna Konta.
Former champion Kaia Kanepi, a winner in 2012, dominated her match against Lesia Tsurenko to seal a 6-4 6-3 victory and a meeting against second seed Karolina Pliskova who dumped out American CiCi Bellis 6-1 6-1.
Meanwhile, Aliaksandra Sasnovich sealed a comeback win over Kanepi's Estonian compatriot Anett Kontaveit. The qualifier from Belarus, who swept aside Kristina Mladenovic in the first round, prevailed 1-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 and faces Alize Cornet next.
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