ATP Cup: Nick Kyrgios fires Australia to 1-0 lead against Germany and raises $4000 for the bushfire relief

Nick Kyrgios served 20 aces in a win that cost him $4000 - all in a good cause - and helped set up Australia’s opening ATP Cup win over Germany in Brisbane.

Nick Kyrgios shares a laugh with team captain Lleyton Hewitt. Picture: Getty Images

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An emotional Nick Kyrgios has berated himself for not acting more quickly to help bushfire victims despite donating $4000 to the cause courtesy of 20 aces in his ATP Cup win over Germany’s Jan Lennard-Struff on Friday night.

Kyrgios had blasted Australia to a 1-0 ATP Cup lead over the Germans in an impressive 6-4 7-6 at Pat Rafter Arena.

Pre-match, Kyrgios made a pledge to donate $200 for every ace he served during the Australian summer of tennis to help victims of the bushfires currently ravaging the nation.

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Nick Kyrgios got Australia on the board after defeating Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany.

And with the Aces for Bushfire Relief initiative from Tennis Australia, who have pledged $100 for every ace served during the ATP Cup, another $3500 was raised, with Struff serving 15 aces of his own.

But it was a solemn Kyrgios who fronted the media after the match.

“It’s tough to go out there and concentrate on tennis to be honest,” he said.

“Every ace I was hitting that was all I was thinking about, every time I stepped up the (service) line that was all I was thinking about.

“It’s humbling at the same time.”

Kyrgios was upset with himself for not initiating a fund-raising effort sooner, particularly with his home city of Canberra being choked by smoke.

“I feel like there is no choice for us to help,” he said.

“We (tennis players) all earn a lot of money and at this stage a bottle of water can save a life.

“There’s always more that can be done.

“To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed in myself. It’s not like we weren’t all aware of what’s going on, if anything I think it’s a bit late … but obviously more can be done.”

"It's pretty sad, it's tough." 💔

🇦🇺 @NickKyrgios speaks about the bushfires in Australia after his win over Struff in #Brisbane.

🇦🇺 #TeamAustralia | #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/gBW1y5pBP1

— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 3, 2020

Despite his emotions, Kyrgios, under probation from the ATP for aggravated behaviour, remained calm throughout the match after on Thursday being unable to promise he wouldn’t cross the line.

Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt again kept Kyrgios’ mind on the job throughout the 72-minute contest, while Kyrgios’ Aussie teammates were close by at courtside to offer their support.

Both players served strongly in the first set but the decisive break came in the fifth game.

Kyrgios only needed one break point to gain the ascendancy, with Struff netting a forehand at the end of a long rally to give Australia the advantage.

Kyrgios then put his foot on the pedal, finishing the set with eight aces, including three in the eight game and one of a second serve to close out the set in the 10th game.

Kyrgios is all smiles after Australia’s big winj.

While his conventional serving wasn’t letting him down, Kyrgios came unstuck when he attempted to catch Struff unawares with an underarm serve in the sixth game.

The ball barely made it halfway up the net, with a sheepish Kyrgios all but apologising to Struff for the serve. But that was a rare Kyrgios blemish.

He was tested on serve in the 10th game of the second set but came through under pressure, before finishing off the job in the tie-break, fittingly ending the match with another ace.