Kyrgios serves up the perfect start
NICK Kyrgios has thundered into a depleted top half of the Australian Open draw, destroying outclassed Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva in straight sets.
Joining fellow Australians John Millman and Matt Ebden in the last 64 with a commanding 6-1 6-2 6-4 triumph, 17th seed Kyrgios could hardly have been more impressive.
With 16 aces, Kyrgios produced a supreme serving display, also clubbing 33 winners and making just 17 unforced errors.
Untouchable on serve, Kyrgios conceded just 21 points against his own delivery in an 87-minute romp.
“It’s definitely up there,” Kyrgios said of the win.
“I knew today I was facing a tough competitor.
“I’m obviously riding the confidence from Brisbane [where he claimed his first title on home soil].”
As imposing as his form was coming into the first major of the year, Kyrgios was apprehensive.
“Obviously very nervous, first match of the Australian Open. I don’t think I was playing as well as Brisbane, but I think I can improve,” he said.
“I’m just excited to be back in Melbourne. I made a quarter final on this court a couple of years ago and I can hopefully do it again.”
Kyrgios, 22, said he was pleased to have his girlfriend Ajla Tomljanovic back on tour after a string of injuries.
The Canberran will next face Serb Viktor Troicki, who denied South Australian Alex Bolt 6-7 (2-7), 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4.
Kyrgios’ march to the second week has been notionally boosted by the demise of US Open finalist Kevin Anderson, American John Isner and German Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Markedly more composed, Kyrgios had only one glitch. leave the annual player meeting at a city hotel on Friday.
He then made a long speech urging players to form a union to push for more money.
The Serb’s speech followed a presentation to the player cohort by Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley, who outlined plans to boost Open prizemoney from $55 million to $100 million
Serving for a 4-1 lead in the first set, he then apparently told a member of the crowd to “shut the f--- up” during his over the next five to six years.
The ATP Tour is a partnership between the players and the tournaments.
The four grand slams — Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Open — sit outside the ATP Tour structure.
Djokovic’s push for greater rewards surprised officials, and many players, on several fronts. service motion. Kyrgios immediately received a code violation from chair umpire Fergus Murphy.
There have been significant prizemoney increases on the ATP World Tour, rising from $91 million in 2014 to $137 million this year.
More than 50 players last year earned more than $1 million in prizemoney — up from 30 players four years ago.
And the ATP Tour player pension contributions have
The Australian and umpire Murphy then exchanged words at the end of the set as Kyrgios quizzed Murphy over jumped 2008.
Djokovic, first-round American could not comment.
But American Ryan Harrison, who said he had left the meeting before Djokovic’s speech, said he was in favour of a player union. 254 per cent since who plays his match against Donald Young, be contacted for why he had not cautioned the crowd earlier in the match as fans made noise during his service action.