Kyrgios reaches first career

Greek - Australian NICK Kyrgios is virtually guaranteed French Open and Wimbledon seedings after storming into the Millennium Estoril Open final in Portugal.

Kyrgios earned the right to contest his first ATP World Tour final with a grinding 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 semi-final success over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

“I’m very excited to play in my first final,” Kyrgios said.

“I thought I served well the whole match and got some chances on his serve. I kept pushing after losing the first set and I thought I hung in well.”

Kyrgios produced 15 aces and conceded only nine points on his first serve in a masterful display.

Kyrgios, 20, faces fifth seed Richard Gasquet, the Frenchman who failed to convert a grand slam record nine match points against the young Australian in an epic Wimbledon battle last season.

Gasquet is searching for his 12th ATP World Tour title and third on clay.

The champion at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier three months ago, Gasquet owns an 11-12 record in tour-level finals.

“He’s the future of the game,” Gasquet said of Kyrgios.

“It’s a tough opponent. I think it’s better on clay against him, but he has a big serve and he’s very good. He’ll be very high in the (Emirates ATP Rankings) soon.”

Ranked 46th at the start of the tournament, Kyrgios has risen to a provisional mark of No 33 - one spot shy of a grand slam seeding.

But with natural attrition ahead of the French Open in two weeks, and the possibility of breaking into the top 30 with victory in Portugal, Kyrgios is well placed.

Bernard Tomic, ranked 27th, is assured a Roland Garros seeding.

6:10 PM