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Kyrgios lobs back at Venus

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis

are Australian Open finalists after the enigmatic box office act powered into an all-local doubles decider before Kyrgios took a gentle pot shot at his New Zealand detractor, Michael Venus. The Special K semifinal was scheduled for Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne after their giantkilling run on outside courts and the Australian duo did not disappoint on centre stage. Kyrgios and Kokkinakis outlasted third seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in 1hr 47min yesterday. Showing more focus and restraint than in previous matches on the raucous outside courts, the pair mostly let their irresistible tennis do the talking. The victory sets up an all-Australian final at the Australian Open for the first time since 1980 with Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell taking down second seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury 6-3 7-6 (11-9) in their semifinal. Kyrgios was always going to be quizzed on his response to Venus, part of the duo that fell to the Australians in the previous round, who had labelled him an ‘‘absolute knob’’ and declared the Canberran had the maturity level of a 10-year-old. ‘‘I’m not going to destroy him [Venus] in this media conference right now, but Granollers and Zeballos are great players and I respect them a lot more than I respect Michael Venus,’’ he said. ‘‘Zeballos took a selfie with us before we walked out. That’s how you embrace an atmosphere – not losing a match and getting salty about it afterwards.’’

Sport

en-nz

2022-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://stuff.pressreader.com/article/282076280257390

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