Nick Kyrgios blasts his way into Brisbane International final with first win over Grigor Dimitrov

NICK Kyrgios has blasted his way into the Brisbane International final after securing his first win over world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov from a set down with a frightening display of power tennis.

NICK Kyrgios welcomed world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov to his top-10 victims club and moved into his first ATP tournament final in Australia.

Kyrgios attacked brilliantly to secure his first win over Dimitrov, 3-6 6-1 6-4 in a Brisbane International semi-final which augured well for the Australian’s prospects of at least reaching the second week at the Australian Open for the first time in three years. Kyrgios will play American Ryan Harrison, ranked No.47, in Saturday night’s final at Pat Rafter Arena, and said he liked the idea of joining a tournament champions list which includes his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt (2014). The 22-year-old Canberran and teenage semi-finalist Alex de Minaur have injected badly needed local success into a tournament which had lost Grand Slam champion drawcards Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray through injuries. Impressively, the Australian No.1 had previously also gathered one career win or more over Grand Slam winners or current top-10 players including Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Alex Zverev and David Goffin, joking that it was easier for him to find motivation against better-ranked opponents. Dimitrov, equal third favourite for the Australian Open behind only betting markets favourite Federer and Nadal, had a 2-0 win-loss record previously against Kyrgios, who will rise from No.21 to no lower than No.18 in tomorrow’s rankings list. “I was going to come in a lot and not give him too much rhythm and be super aggressive on my returns,’’ Kyrgios said. ‘ ‘My serve came through again. “For me, it’s the matches on the backcourts, playing guys not ranked so great that are the ones that are harder to get up for.’’ The Australian did not permit Dimitrov a break of serve in the second or third set and finished the match with 19 aces and a flurry of far-fetched winners. “At some points, he was a little bit, like, carelessly hitting the ball, and they were getting in, but there’s no point for me to get frustrated,’’ Dimitrov said. “We know how he is. ‘He can switch from playing unbelievable to just missing the easiest shots.’’ On the first ATP semi-final day in Australia in 18 years with two Australian men, Kyrgios’ second set turned his match, winning eight of the 12 points on which he came to net and breaking Dimitrov’s serve twice in the set. Kyrgios, 22, has taken out both his two career matches against Harrison in straight sets and will start a hot favourite against to finish his one Australian Open tune-up tournament on a winning note. Kyrgios had his sore left knee re-strapped after he lost a 30-minute first set to Dimitrov. “It’s good enough to play and hopefully it feels good coming into tomorrow,’’ he said. “I’m confident but I know he (Harrison) will be a dangerous opponent.’’ Kyrgios said he would not be nervous before his seventh tour final, with all previous ones being played overseas. “It would really good because I haven’t won one in Australia, but I’m not going to lose sleep if I lose the final,’’ he said. RECAP ALL THE ACTION BELOW IN OUR LIVE BLOG

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios blasts his way into Brisbane International final with first win over Grigor Dimitrov