(January 7, 2018) Nick Kyrgios won his first ATP Tour title on home soil defeating American Ryan Harrison in the final of the 2018 Brisbane International 6-4, 6-2.

Kyrgios becomes the first Australian since Lleyton Hewitt in 2014 to capture the title in Brisbane.  This is the Australian’s fourth career ATP World Tour title.

“It’s a good feeling,” Kyrgios said of the victory. “As the week went on, I started serving better and hitting the ball better. There was pressure on me today because I was the favorite and most people expected me to win, so I was proud of the way I handled that expectation and pressure.”

The 22-year-old got through three three-setters before winning in straight sets in the championship match.

“Came back from a set down three times and against three pretty good opponents,” noted the winner. “And for me, that’s just confidence not only mentally but physically as well, and battling and fighting hard. And it’s good to see the work I was doing in the offseason is paying off. But pretty happy with my performance today.”

“I didn’t know what kind of performance I was going to put in this week, whether I was going to do well. But as the week went on, I felt that I was serving a lot better, hitting the ball better. And I knew today was obviously a great opportunity.”
“His level is very high,” Harrison said. “I think that we all know how well he can play. He brought a very high level today. And playing out here in Australia, he’s obviously very motivated and very comfortable. You know, he’s going to be a danger to beat anybody that he plays whenever he plays like that. I think that it’s nothing new, though, for him. He knows that and he knows he has the level.”

Kyrgios is projected to return to the Top 20 of the ATP Rankings on Monday at No. 17.