Kazakh qualifier Kukushkin into Sydney tennis final

Qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin defeated the sole remaining seed Leonardo Mayer on Friday to make the final of the Sydney International.
The Kazakhstan world number 66 downed the Argentine fifth seed 6-4, 6-4 to reach his third ATP Tour final.
Kukushkin will face either Serbian qualifier Viktor Troicki or Luxembourg's Gilles Muller in Saturday's final.
A 10-year tour journeyman, Kukushkin has one career title from Moscow in 2013.
He had a service break in each set against the Argentine and has yet to drop a set this week in Sydney.
Kukushkin also saved 11 break points, including nine in the second set -- taking him to a total of 19 saves out of 22 break points for the tournament.
The triumph extended his winning record in Sydney to seven matches after he won three times in qualifying to make the main draw.
Source: AFP