The best and worst of Kyrgios

Nine double-faults, 16 aces, erratic behaviour, a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct and a loss to Argentina’s world No 94 Nicolas Kicker, all coming one week before the French Open.

Welcome back to the Nick Kyrgios rollercoaster.

Kyrgios managed to lose his Lyon opener 2-6 6-4 6-2 to the Argentine from a position in which he appeared to be cruising.

The Australian fourth seed and world No 19 ripped through the opening set, serving six aces to blast the 24-year-old qualifier off the court.

Kyrgios was still cruising at 4-4 in the second set before it all went awry. Kicker made a couple of shots and in a ‘ blink and you missed it’ moment Kyrgios netted a second serve to drop the second set.

The Aussie spent the break between sets repeatedly dropping his water bottle on to the court at his feet, until a ball-kid picked it up and gave it to him.

It didn’t stop the funk. Kyrgios appeared aloof and even tried hitting a tweener early in the set, when he could have hit a regulation forehand. Kicker duly passed the Australian and from there ran away with the match.

Perhaps harder to fathom was Kyrgios’ mental slide on a day where his need to do better in that regard was something he seemed to be painfully aware of.

In an interview with the official ATP Tour website Kyrgios spoke of his admiration for Rome Masters winner Alexander Zverev. ‘‘I actually envy him in a way.’’