Nick Kyrgios acknowledged Naomi Osaka's major Montreal comeback by posting about it on his Instagram Story and congratulating the 49th-ranked WTA star on sealing a 4-6 7-6 (6) 6-3 second-round win over No. 13 seed Liudmila Samsonova.
After taking the first set, Samsonova also had a chance to serve out for the match at 5-4 in the second set. When the Russian went 40/0 up in the game and clinched three consecutive match points, Osaka's fate was all but sealed. But then, the four-time Grand Slam champion stunningly won the next five points to get the break back and level the second set to five games apiece.
However, that wasn't the end of the troubles for Osaka. In the second-set tie-break, Samsonova opened a 5-2 lead and came two points away from winning the match. But once again, the Japanese former world No. 1 clawed her way back - took the tie-break - and then also got the job done in the third set to complete a 4-6 7-6 (6) 6-3 win.
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Kyrgios reposted a post about the 27-year-old's stunning Montreal win and captioned it: "Great effort champ."
Kyrgios and Osaka are slated to be mixed doubles partners at the US Open
This week, the US Open organizers revealed the 14 teams that gained entry into the mixed doubles event through direct entry or a wildcard.
Kyrgios and Osaka, who were on the initial list released in late June, weren't mentioned on the list. However, since the Australian has been dealing with a knee for the past couple of months, the US Open organizers are probably waiting for the 30-year-old's confirmation about his participation.
When asked about teaming up with Osaka in one of his interviews, the Australian said they could "do big things" at the US Open.
