A fired-up Nick Kyrgios provided the entertainment on John Cain Arena Tuesday, downing British qualifier Liam Broady to set up a popcorn second-round match against World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open.
The dynamic Aussie showcased his repertoire of trick shots throughout his 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory, bringing the raucous crowd to their feet with his majestic hitting as he reached the second round in Melbourne for the eighth time.
“I served well today,” Kyrgios said in his on-court interview. “I don’t know what I have done to this crowd as you guys are a zoo now. I am super happy to be here again. We have all had a tough couple of years, so just to be back at Aussie Open and be back here in front of you guys [is great].”
Kyrgios has enjoyed strong results at his home major, advancing to the quarter-finals in 2015 and the fourth round in 2018 and 2020. The 26-year-old set the wheels in motion for another good run, firing 41 winners past Broady to triumph after one hour and 54 minutes.
Medvedev awaits next for the six-time tour-level titlist after the Russian cruised past World No. 91 Henri Laaksonen 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(3) in one hour and 56 minutes. Kyrgios holds a good record against the 25-year-old, leading their ATPHead2Head series 2-0. However, their last meeting came back in 2019, when Medvedev was outside the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings.
On facing Medvedev, Kyrgios said: “He is an amazing player. I knew he was going to do some amazing things in this sport. He was won a Grand Slam. I am just going to enjoy it tonight though.”
The World No. 115 was competing for the first time since September, when he represented Team World at the Laver Cup. He showed little sign of rustiness though against Broady, throwing in underarm serves and tweeners as he played with a beaming smile on his face throughout.
Kyrgios started the first and second sets quickly, breaking Broady in the opening game of both as he gained control of the match. The Australian hit with great variety and raised his level in the crucial moments, saving a break point at 0-1 in the third set, before breaking in the following game when his forehand clipped the net, forcing the 28-year-old into a forehand volley error.
The former World No. 13, whose last win before tonight came in the first round in Atlanta in July, won 81 per cent (47/58) of his first-serve points and hit 21 aces in the match to secure victory.
Broady was making his Australian Open debut, having battled through qualifying. The World No. 128 captured his first ATP Challenger Tour trophy last year in Switzerland.
Did You Know?
Kyrgios is also playing doubles in Melbourne, teaming with Adelaide International 2 champion Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The dynamic Aussie showcased his repertoire of trick shots throughout his 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory, bringing the raucous crowd to their feet with his majestic hitting as he reached the second round in Melbourne for the eighth time.
“I served well today,” Kyrgios said in his on-court interview. “I don’t know what I have done to this crowd as you guys are a zoo now. I am super happy to be here again. We have all had a tough couple of years, so just to be back at Aussie Open and be back here in front of you guys [is great].”
Kyrgios has enjoyed strong results at his home major, advancing to the quarter-finals in 2015 and the fourth round in 2018 and 2020. The 26-year-old set the wheels in motion for another good run, firing 41 winners past Broady to triumph after one hour and 54 minutes.
Medvedev awaits next for the six-time tour-level titlist after the Russian cruised past World No. 91 Henri Laaksonen 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(3) in one hour and 56 minutes. Kyrgios holds a good record against the 25-year-old, leading their ATPHead2Head series 2-0. However, their last meeting came back in 2019, when Medvedev was outside the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings.
On facing Medvedev, Kyrgios said: “He is an amazing player. I knew he was going to do some amazing things in this sport. He was won a Grand Slam. I am just going to enjoy it tonight though.”
The World No. 115 was competing for the first time since September, when he represented Team World at the Laver Cup. He showed little sign of rustiness though against Broady, throwing in underarm serves and tweeners as he played with a beaming smile on his face throughout.
Kyrgios started the first and second sets quickly, breaking Broady in the opening game of both as he gained control of the match. The Australian hit with great variety and raised his level in the crucial moments, saving a break point at 0-1 in the third set, before breaking in the following game when his forehand clipped the net, forcing the 28-year-old into a forehand volley error.
The former World No. 13, whose last win before tonight came in the first round in Atlanta in July, won 81 per cent (47/58) of his first-serve points and hit 21 aces in the match to secure victory.
Broady was making his Australian Open debut, having battled through qualifying. The World No. 128 captured his first ATP Challenger Tour trophy last year in Switzerland.
Did You Know?
Kyrgios is also playing doubles in Melbourne, teaming with Adelaide International 2 champion Thanasi Kokkinakis.