Hurkacz snaps Kyrgios’ win streak with fighting show

Nick Kyrgios’s nine-match winning streak ended in the Canadian Masters semi-finals yesterday when eighth-seeded Pole Hubert Hurkacz blasted his way to a 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 6-1 victory. Enjoying a superb run of form, the loss was Kyrgios’s first since falling to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. Since then the 27-year-old had been on a roll, including a title at the Citi Open, before running into Hurkacz who improves his record to 2-0 against the Australian following a three sets win earlier this year in the Halle semi-finals.Earlier on Thursday, Kyrgios produced an extraordinary performance to demolish compatriot Alex de Minaur 6-2 6-3 at the Canadian Masters, a day after stunning world number one Daniil Medvedev.In the semi-finals, Hurkacz will take on Norwegian fourth seed Casper Ruud who yesterday beat hometown favourite sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 6-2.“Nick has been playing some incredible tennis throughout the past weeks, so it is a pleasure playing against him,” Hurkacz said in his on-court interview. “I hope the fans enjoyed it as well, but I am happy with the result in the end.“I started really well. Nick was maybe a little bit injured, which might have hurt his serve. With both of us serving so well, that few per cent can make the difference,” Hurkacz added.The two big servers pounded away at each other on Centre Court with Hurkacz blasting 20 aces and Kyrgios hitting back with 19 in a contest that produced two breaks, both going to the Pole in the final set.Kyrgios started the match serving at a quick-fire pace as the opening set reached a tiebreak in 33 minutes with Hurkacz winning it.After holding serve to open the second, Kyrgios had a superb opportunity to take control with triple break point but was unable convert.Hurkacz would also have his opportunities but could not get the elusive break as the second set again sped to a tiebreak -this time won by Kyrgios who clinched the set with an ace.What had been a tight contest suddenly turned in the third when Hurkacz, helped by a pair of Kyrgios double faults, secured the first break.With the help of yet another Kyrgios double-fault Hurkacz broke the Australian again to go 5-1 up and held serve to book his place in the last four.  Britain’s Jack Draper, who upset third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in his previous round, on Thursday booked a quarter-final spot when France’s Gael Monfils retired in the second set with what appeared to be an injury to his right ankle. Draper, 20, will next meet Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta after the 2020 US Open semi-finalist defeated Italian seventh seed Jannik Sinner 6-2 6-4.