Kyrgios Clinches, Aussies Set to Face Belgium in Davis Cup Semis

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The often controversial Kyrgios grabbed the point Australia needed on Sunday with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 6-4 victory over Sam Querrey, setting up a clash with Belgium for a place in the 2017 final.

Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson got the Aussies off to the ideal start on Friday and with the doubles team of Sam Groth and John Peers losing yesterday, those wins became all the more important.

Australia must win one of their two remaining singles matches to progress to the Davis Cup semi-finals after John Peers and Sam Groth were beaten in a five-set doubles arm-wrestle on Saturday against the United States.

"I just tried to wear him down, and I thought I was fit enough to do that", Thompson said.

"I was hurting physically and they (the physios) did well to keep me in good shape so we could get into the semi-finals".

"I'm sure he'd much rather play in a dead rubber", Hewitt said.

The American double-faulted again on the first and last points of a thrilling third-set tiebreaker and was unable to snatch back the momentum after that point.

Jim Courier has tipped Nick Kyrgios to become one of the world's top five players by the end of the year if he continues at his current trajectory.

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"In my opinion I think he's a lot more mature now", Isner said of Kyrgios. The British player, drafted into the singles line-up after the injury-enforced withdrawal of world number one Andy Murray, was made to pay for letting slip a 5/2 lead in the second-set tiebreak.

The American No.2, who owns a Davis Cup win over Roger Federer, clouted the most aces on the ATP Tour a year ago, 1159, at an average of 23 per match, the majority of which were best-of-three-set encounters.

Kyrgios gave up only two break points, dropping serve once early in the first set to hand Isner a 3-0 lead, but the world No. 16 stormed back, breaking his opponent to love at 5-5 and serving out the set with an ace.

"When I was in the States playing, always kind of knew I had this big preparation to come here and play two big matches". The Belgians led the Italians 2-0 after the opening singles in Charleroi.

"To beat a full-strength, quality U.S. team, this is one of our best wins in a long time. We weren't going to go down without a fight".

"The tie was already sealed so I focused on a few things", Ramanathan said after the game.

Australia will now play either Belgium away or Italy at home in September's semi-finals.

"I thought (the crowd) really embraced me this time".

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