No. 8 of '22: Nick Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe put it all together this season, and in this match

HIGHLIGHTS: Nick Kyrgios d. Frances Tiafoe 6-7 (5), 7-6 (12), 6-2, Citi Open quarterfinal

Together, Nick Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe occupy a similar niche in the men’s game. They both style themselves as entertainers first, and competitors second. They think tennis is too staid, and they’re out to inject it with personality—their personality—even if it comes at the expense of their results. It’s common to hear them described as “good for the game,” even as their lack of consistent success is lamented.

This year, though, the American and the Aussie finally found that consistent success. Kyrgios made his first Grand Slam singles final, at Wimbledon; Tiafoe made his first Grand Slam semifinal, at the US Open. Both climbed into the Top 20, and neither had a prolonged slump or disappearance. They were fitter and more focused, and didn’t let their extracurricular antics get in their way of their will to win. But they still drew a crowd, and put on a show, wherever they went.

So it was no surprise that there was a full house for their first career meeting, at the Citi Open, in Washington, D.C. This is Tiafoe’s home tournament, and he had the audience revved up at the start. For the first two sets, the energy was all on the American’s side. Because of rain, Kyrgios was playing his second match that day, and he was hanging on by a thread.

Few players, outside of Novak Djokovic, hang on by a thread like Kyrgios. His serve can save him from just about anything. Despite Tiafoe’s early momentum, Kyrgios nearly stole the first set in a tiebreaker. That was just the warm-up, it turned out, for the second-set tiebreaker. There Kyrgios saved five match points—with an ace, a backhand winner, a second-serve serve-and-volley, a backhand return that landed on the baseline, and a drop shot winner. The full Kyrgios panoply of shots was in effect. By the time Kyrgios reached set point at 13-12, Tiafoe, who looked shell-shocked, couldn’t keep a routine forehand in the court.

I was extremely lucky at times, but it was just a great match. Nick Kyrgios

“I don’t think about it as match point or not,” Kyrgios said. “That’s all I did. I put myself in a position to stay in the match.”

Kyrgios stayed in it long enough to find a second wind. For the first two sets, he was just trying to survive, but down the stretch he was the fresher and better player. He won the third set going away, and left Tiafoe and the crowd in semi-stunned silence.

Kyrgios’ improved fitness helped make the difference, the way it did for him all season.

“I knew it was going to be crazy,” said Kyrgios, who went on to win the tournament. “I was extremely lucky at times, but it was just a great match.”