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By Chris Oddo | Friday October 7, 2016

This may have been Nick Kyrgios’ most flawless tennis match from start to finish. Everything was there. The dazzling shotmaking. The vaunted serve. The feathery, sublime touch. The wicked topspin forehand. The crafty backhand that’s impossible to read. And, to top it all off, there was a bit of the unexpected: Kyrgios was unexpectedly focused, determined—even calm.

More: Dimitrov Earns First Career Victory over Nadal to Reach Beijing Semis

It all added up neatly to a 6-4, 6-4 decision over a Gael Monfils that acquitted himself quite nicely, but was never really a threat on this night in Tokyo.

No, this was the Nick Kyrgios show from start to finish, and as strange as it may seem, Monfils was but a mere spectator, an innocent bystander that could only look on as Kyrgios carved his way to an eyebrow raising victory.

Of course, Kyrgios’ jaw-dropping talent is no surprise, but the fact that he could tie all the facets of his game together so cohesively, then wrap them up in and put a very serious, mature bow on top, most certainly was.

The match was spirited from the onset and both players made their presence felt in the early going. It was Kyrgios who struck first, jamming a forehand pass that Monfils took flight for, and got a racquet on, but the flying Frenchman could not manage to guide the ball into the court with his Superman backhand attempt.

It sailed long and Kyrgios saved two break points in the next game before finishing off the set two games later.

After a trade of breaks in the first two games of set two, Kyrgios would continue to pressure. The Aussie hit a devilish drop volley off the lunge that bit and kicked wildly off the court, eluding Monfils and earning Kyrgios a break point at 3-all. The Frenchman could only sit on the court after failing to get a racquet on the ball, shaking his head as if to say “too good.”

Kyrgios broke on the next point and his tennis only became more elevated as he held his serve in his next two service games.

Kyrgios’ crowning shotmaking achievement in a night of so many would soon follow.

The Aussie won a protracted rally with another sublime dropper at 4-3, deuce. The point, punctuated by a mid-rally desperation ‘tweener from Kyrgios, ended when the Aussie punched a volley winner past Monfils.

Break out your emojis, people, this kid can play.

Kyrgios finished the job with a smash at the 90-minute mark to improve his record to 37-14 on the season and 24-8 on hardcourts.

It was an incredible performance from a player that is in possession of one of the most varied and voluminous shotmaking toolbags in men’s tennis.

Kyrgios moves into his first ATP 500 final on Sunday where he’ll face Belgium’s David Goffin. Goffin improved to 3-0 against the Croatian with a 7-5, 6-4 victory.

Goffin and Kyrgios have never met at the tour level.

 

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