|
 Kyrgios and Daria Gavrilova, playing for Australia Green, one of two
teams representing the host nation, won their singles matches in
straight sets against Alexandr Dolgopolov and Elina Svitolina
respectively.
Kyrgios, who defeated world number two Briton Andy Murray during his
four-match winning run this week, brushed aside the challenge from
Dolgopolov 6-3 6-4 after the 36th-ranked Gavrilova had opened with a
6-4 7-6(6) win over Svitolina.
Australia's only previous Hopman Cup title came in 1999 while the
last time they reached the final was 13 years ago.
The victories at the Perth event will boost the confidence of world
number 30 Kyrgios as he prepares for the first grand slam of the
season beginning in Melbourne on Jan. 18.
The 20-year-old took the first set against Dolgopolov in 26 minutes
before an early break in the second allowed him to cruise to
victory.
Kyrgios dedicated the win to Australian coach Darren Tandy, who died
last month of colon cancer.
[to top of second column] |
"It means a lot. It's my first real title that I've won," Kyrgios
said.
"It's the perfect way to start off the year. I haven't lost a match
yet. I'm riding a lot of confidence going into the Aussie summer.
I'm just really happy."
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by John O'Brien and
Clare Fallon)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
