Tennis news - Tearful Nick Kyrgios on bushfire relief efforts after ATP Cup win

ByCarrie Dunn

Updated 03/01/2020 at 15:33 GMT

A tearful Nick Kyrgios urged people to get behind efforts to raise money in aid of the Australian bushfire victims - and said that it was 'bigger than tennis' after a straight-sets victory over Jan-Lennard Struff in the ATP Cup.

Kyrgios had been the first Australian player to announce his intentions to donate money for each ace he hit over the coming months - and was quickly joined by compatriots Alex de Minaur, John Millman, Samantha Stosur and Ellen Perez.

Kyrgios breaks down in tears over bushfire tragedy

"I don't really care about the praise too much - I just think we've got the ability and the platform to do something," said a visibly emotional Kyrgios. "My home town is Canberra, we've got the most toxic air in the world at the moment, so it's pretty sad. It's tough."

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Kyrgios began his match in Brisbane with an ace, and hit 19 more over the course of the two sets, winning 6-4, 7-6(4) - meaning he will give $4,000 Australian dollars to the cause (just over £2,000).

"It's a real thing and it's bigger than tennis," he concluded in his post-match interview.

"I thought it would be a good initiative," Kyrgios added in his media conference.

Every ace I hit that was all I was thinking about, every time I stepped up to the line that was all I was thinking about.

"It's tough to go out there and concentrate on tennis to be honest."

Kyrgios has also urged authorities in Australia to hold an exhibition match to raise money for the victims of the fires.

And they responded by hinting that an event is in the works and that an announcement would be made in the coming days.

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