Nick Kyrgios breaks 1055-day drought with clay court victory

Nick Kyrgios isn’t particularly fond of playing tennis on clay but he broke a massive drought with a victory on Wednesday.

Nick Kyrgios won his first match on clay since 2019. Photo: Mark Brown/Getty Images/AFP

Nick Kyrgios has won his opening round clash at the ATP event in Houston in his first match on clay since 2019.

The Australian defeated Mackenzie McDonald 4-6 6-3 6-4 in a performance full of his trademark flair.

Kyrgios lost the first set and briefly argued with the umpire after being given a time violation for going off court for more than three minutes without changing his clothes.

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But he composed himself and fought back to claim the next two sets as his explosive serve proved crucial.

Kyrgios fired down 18 aces including a 222km/h bomb that McDonald barely got a racquet to.

Down a break in the second set, the 26-year-old pulled off an audacious tweener shot between his legs and won the point in typical Kyrgios style.

Three certainties in life ⬇️

✅ Death
✅ Taxes
✅ Kyrgios hitting a tweener@NickKyrgios#USClaypic.twitter.com/5R6rgFAS6l

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 5, 2022

The three set victory was Kyrgios’ first match on clay in three years, or 1055 days ago to be exact.

“I slip and slide a little bit but my game actually suits clay quite well,” he said after the win.

“Clay is obviously not my preferred surface but today I just served really well and started playing more aggressive and found another gear.”

He will next take on another American in Tommy Paul on Thursday, but fans shouldn’t get used to the sight of Kyrgios playing on the red dirt.

The Canberran has previously said the event in Houston will be the only clay tournament he will play this year.

Kyrgios won’t take part in the European clay court season and will skip the French Open, instead opting to return to Australia for a break before the grass court season and Wimbledon.

Nick Kyrgios had plenty to smile about after breaking a massive drought. Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP

Kyrgios hasn’t played at Roland Garros since 2017, where he was knocked out in the second round, but he revealed earlier this week he will contest the grand slam in 2023.

He will make a long-awaited comeback because his better half Costeen Hatzi is keen to spend time in the French capital.

“Next year I am going to go to Paris. I’m announcing that now, I’m going to the French Open,” Kyrgios told tennis reporter and host Blair Henley

“I haven’t played that in four years so I’ll be back next year.

“My girlfriend just wants to see Paris. I mean, I’ll play the French Open as well.”

Asked why he wouldn’t play the French Open this year in May if Hatzi was so keen to hit up Paris, Kyrgios said they already had plans to head home before jetting off again to re-join the tour.

“We already decided to go home and have that time. We’re just working towards that. Time at home’s crucial because they next trip is for three months and the time at home is so valuable,” Kyrgios said.

“Especially being from Australia, you get homesick very quickly and we’re both very family-orientated, so we have to make sure that season remains tight.”