The career-best season of Nick Kyrgios has continued with the Australian claiming his first ATP Tour title in three years at the Citi Open in Washington.
Kyrgios took just 81 minutes to defeat Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4 6-3 in Sunday's final, firing down 12 aces in the straight sets win over the world No.96.
The 27-year-old also recorded 32 winners in the triumph as he completed the tournament having held serve 64 times without being broken.
It's Kyrgios' seventh ATP Tour title and first since he won at Washington in 2019.
"It's just very emotional for me," he said in a post-match interview.
"To see where I was at last year to now, it's just an incredible transformation. I just came out with great energy. I knew that I had experience on my side today. I love this court, I've played so many good matches here, so I'm just really happy with myself.
"I've been in some really dark places. Just to be able to turn it around ... There are so many people who have helped me get there, but myself, I've shown some serious strength to just continue and persevere and get through all those times and be able to still perform and win tournaments like this one."
Victory means Kyrgios remains unbeaten since his loss to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final and lifts him to 37th on the world rankings.
Despite not earning any ranking points for reaching his first grand slam final due to an objection by the ATP to the All England Club's banning of Russian and Belarusian players, Kyrgios is now on track to secure an all-important seeding for the US Open starting on August 29 in New York.
And after winning a second doubles title of the year last week in Atlanta with fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, Kyrgios will look to go back-to-back in the Washington final with American Jack Sock.
Kyrgios and Sock will play Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in the doubles decider following sufficient rest after the singles final.
