Nick Kyrgios on the move

Nick Kyrgios has a golden opportunity to end a hoodoo this week in London against Andy Murray.

Nick Kyrgios returns a ball during his semi-final with Roger Federer. Picture: AP.

After a confidence-building tournament in Stuttgart ended with a narrow loss to Roger Federer, Nick Kyrgios has a golden opportunity to end a hoodoo this week in London against Andy Murray.

Ash Barty and emerging star Alex De Minaur were competing in finals in Nottingham overnight as Australia’s top-ranked man headed to London to compete at the prestigious Queen’s Club ahead of a tilt at Wimbledon beginning in a fortnight.

In his return to the tour from an elbow injury that ruined his clay-court season, a cameo in Lyon aside that resulted in a doubles triumph, the Canberra resident enjoyed a sound week in Stuttgart.

Federer, who also skipped the clay season, ultimately reclaimed the world’s top ranking from Rafael Nadal by defeating Kyrgios 6-7 (2) 6-2 7-6 (5) to reach the final, where he will play Milos Raonic.

It gave the Swiss superstar the edge in their head-to-head record from three encounters, with eight of the nine sets the pair have played going to tiebreakers.

“I’m very happy, very relieved,” Federer said. “I thought it was a tough match, (like) I expected against Nick. We’ve played so many tiebreakers already, I’m losing count. It was close. It could have gone either way, naturally. But I am happy I got it and get back to world No 1 (today), so it’s very exciting.”

It was an important week for Kyrgios as he prepares for Wimbledon, where he was a quarter-finalist in 2014.

The Australian served 63 aces in three matches, demonstrating that his power and precision has returned after treatment for the elbow injury that flared in a Davis Cup loss in February.

He also built significant match fitness in consecutive three set matches against Max Marterer, Feliciano Lopez and Federer.

The immediate challenge is to end a losing streak against Murray that stands at five.

The Scot is the only member of the “big four” also featuring Federer, Nadal and Novak Djokovic that Kyrgios has not beaten, with the record including a loss at each grand slam tournament as well as the Canadian Masters.

Murray also boasts an astounding record against Australians, with his only tour loss coming a year ago at Queen’s when he was upset by Jordan Thompson while troubled by a hip injury.

The 31-year-old limped out of Wimbledon after a quarter-final loss to Sam Querrey almost three weeks later and has not played since, which presents Kyrgios with his best chance to gain a win over Murray.

The three-time grand slam titlist tested the hip during a training session on the weekend and, after gathering his thoughts over a night’s sleep, opted to gamble on a tour return at Queen’s.

Barty, meanwhile, has been in impressive form and leads the Australian contingent that has clearly enjoyed the switch in surface from dirt to turf.

The Queenslander was seeking her first WTA title this year when pitted against former Australian Open semi-finalist Johanna Konta overnight.

She reached the final with a straight sets win over her Australian Open conqueror Naomi Osaka and is building confidence heading into Wimbledon.

“I think when I first got on the grass, I instantly felt comfortable. Being in a final against is always a positive, no matter where you are,” she said.

Barty’s loss to the Japanese talent in Melbourne came after a late court change from Rod Laver Arena that frustrated members of her camp, though the world No 17 stated publicly it had little impact on the result.

De Minaur is building a case to be gifted a Wimbledon wildcard on form if he does not gain entry via late withdrawals.

The 19-year-old has continued his impressive grass form at Challenger level this week and was to play former world No 41 Dan Evans, who recently returned from a doping suspension for a positive test to cocaine, in the final.

In the Netherlands, the runs of Bernard Tomic and Matt Ebden came to an end when both were beaten in semi-finals.

It is another encouraging week for Tomic, who came through qualifying and won five matches in all before falling to top Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-7 (6) 6-2.

The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist moves back inside the top 150 and will now head to Roehampton in a bid to qualify for this year’s All England Club Championship.

Ebden, meanwhile, will jump to a career-high ranking of 60 despite a loss to Jeremy Chardy and is playing in Halle, Germany, this week.