Nick Kyrgios to raise money for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria destruction

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This was published 6 years ago

Nick Kyrgios to raise money for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria destruction

By Chris Dutton
Updated

Nick Kyrgios' booming serve is set to help people rebuilding their lives after Hurricane Maria, with the Canberra star joining forces with Monica Puig to raise money for those in need.

Kyrgios will donate $50 for every ace he serves for the rest of the year, upping his initial offer of $10 per ace after sending down 23 aces in less than 24 hours in China.

Nick Kyrgios.

Nick Kyrgios.Credit: AP

Kyrgios overcame illness and fired down 12 aces to beat Nikoloz Basilashvili in the opening round of the China Open. He then backed that up with another 11 aces in a 3-6 6-2 6-2 win against Mischa Zverevin the second round.

That means the world No. 19 has already donated $1150 and is set to part with more cash before he ends his season.

​Kyrgios is helping Puig's fundraising efforts on social media and announcing his own plan to offer assistance.

Hurricane Maria was the strongest storm to hit Puerto Rico since 1928 and the category five storm killed 34 people.

"In light of what's happened in Puerto Rico and seeing so many good people struggle, I will be helping fellow tennis player Monica Puig in her admirable fund raising efforts to help the great people of Puerto Rico," Kyrgios said.

"...My thoughts and prayers go out to the people affected, let's do what we can to help this cause and help the people of Puerto Rico."

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Kyrgios is back on the court after a shattering Davis Cup semi-final loss to David Goffin and his efforts at the inaugural Rod Laver Cup.

He made light work of Basilashvili, beating the Georgian 6-1 6-2 in less than an hour and then coming from behind to beat Zverev.

In late action on Wednesday, third seed Grigor Dimitrov joined Kyrgios in the last eight in Beijing.

He beat former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets to advance to a last-eight showdown with Spain's fifth seed Roberto Bautista-Agut.

Kyrgios next faces Belgium's Steve Darcis just weeks after the pair met in the Davis Cup, a clash won in five sets by the Australian.

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