Nick Kyrgios crushes Thanasi Kokkinakis in ‘nightmare’ US Open clash

Nick Kyrgios made short work of doubles partner and great mate Thanasi Kokkinakis at the US Open but there were no winners out of the result.

The Special Ks — Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis — will go to war. Picture: Getty Images

Nick Kyrgios has romped into the second round of the US Open, crushing his doubles teammate Thanasi Kokkinakis in straight sets 6-3 6-4 7-6.

The pair will back up in the men’s doubles playing together but Kyrgios moves on in the singles draw as his spectacular season continues.

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Kyrgios had a couple of blow ups throughout the match but kept his cool for the most part.

The 23rd seed was dominant but didn’t enjoy the match, saying it was a “nightmare” to come up against Kokkinakis, who has long been one of his best friends on and off the court.

“I played a really good first couple of sets, got on top of the match early,” he said.

“When we saw the draw, it was a nightmare honestly. We never want to play each other and he probably beats 80 per cent of the draw tonight, he’s been playing really good.

“I’ve just got so much respect for him so I can’t wait to get out there and play doubles with him on the right side of the net in a couple of days.”

Kyrgios added: “We’re going to play each other, hopefully, never again.”

Kyrgios did not enjoy that win. Picture: Elsa/Getty Images

Kokkinakis has had better nights at the office. Picture: Elsa/Getty Images

The pair took to the court after Serena Williams’ first-round clash in front of a sellout crowd on the Open’s main court.

Before the game, Kyrgios said he was playing “one of my best friends” but wanted to give people a show.

Asked if he’d even dreamt about playing in a stadium like Arthur Ashe, he said: “Not at all. Every time we’re together, we don’t talk about tennis, we love basketball, we love having a gag every now and then. I’m sure we’re going to talk about this one day.”

The first set was a tight affair as the pair held serve until the eighth game when Kyrgios claimed the break with a rocket of a forehand.

He served out the set to take the first 6-3 in half an hour.

Kyrgios’ serve is special

— Justin Morris (@Justin_JM12) August 30, 2022

kyrgios absolutely mogging his doubles partner rn

— Joe Gabriel Simonson (@SaysSimonson) August 30, 2022

Kyrgios is in the form of his life and started the second set perfectly, breaking immediately as he started to assert his dominance.

The set continued on serve from there with Kyrgios serving out the set at 6-4.

While Kyrgios claimed two break points, Kokkinakis was struggling to handle his doubles partner’s serve.

After two sets, Kyrgios had yet to face a break point let alone lose one as he continued his stunning form.

Although Kyrgios promised fireworks before the game — which in the past would mean expletive-laced rants and umpire clashes — he kept calm throughout the match.

There was some self-talk early and a couple of words to the umpire which weren’t picked up on the mics but overall he kept it under control.

The boys are used to playing on the same side of the net. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Halfway through the second set, Aussie tennis legend Todd Woodbridge said: “What I’m loving is he always talks about putting on a good show, it (the show) used to be about the antics, now it’s about the racquet. The show is the racquet, it’s unbelievable.”

That was until the third set when Kyrgios unloaded on his player’s box.

The 2022 US Open is allowing soft coaching which means when you’re up at the same end as your team, you can speak to them.

But Kyrgios’ team didn’t seem to know that as he blasted them.

“You can’t say nothing at 0-40, but his team can talk to him point in, point out. It’s legal now, it’s legal,” he yelled.

It’s the Nick Kyrgios the world knows best but luckily it was the only issue that impacted his game.

Kyrgios has previously exploded at his own box either, blasting his team during the Wimbledon final, questioning why he had to ask them to support him.

Newscorp’s head of digital sport Emily Benammar tweeted: “Is there a rule book for the Nick Kyrgios player’s box? Stand up more, sit down. STFU, make more noise. Seems ludicrous. Would like to see a copy if there is one”.

Why on earth would anyone agree to sit in Nick Kyrgios’s player’s box? #USOpen2022

— wally mason (@walmason) August 30, 2022

Kyrgios is such a lunatic I love him

— Nick (@_NickRogers_) August 30, 2022

Kyrgios, Kokkinakis’ ‘unheard of’ honour

Todd Woodbridge said the match being held on Arthur Ashe Arena was unprecedented.

“Two Aussies opening up the US Open, that is unheard of,” Woodbridge said on the Today show.

“What is fascinating about this match is that it’s actually been Thanasi, I think, that has helped Nick get his form back going this season.

“Nick’s form has been sensational this season, as we know. He’s had a good run in the US, having won in Washington.

“You expect Nick to win between these two but it’s going to be a tough match with good mates, because Nick is going to have to control his emotions, and that’s always a challenge, as we know.”

It was a crazy slot for the Aussie pair as 9pm on opening night is usually reserved for the defending champion, world No. 1 or the biggest names in the sport.

It’s a sign of how Kyrgios is seen on the world stage, particularly as a box office draw.

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis aren’t used to being on the opposite sides of the court. Picture: Adam Hagy/Getty Images/AFP

And with the success of the double pairing winning the Australian Open title, it was bound to be a special clash.

Kokkinakis said that he was expecting the highly-anticipated match to turn into a “circus”, while it would be “weird” to battle against his friend.

“He loves to kind of live in the chaos a bit when it comes to matches. He turns it into a bit of a circus around him and he’s just so comfortable with that,” Kokkinakis told AAP before the match.

“But he’s got the game, obviously, to back it up. It’s not just that, so it will be awkward.”

Kyrgios said he would not be able to watch Williams’ match despite its significance.

“It’s obviously a very special moment for her. She’s probably the greatest of all-time,” he said.

“Whether or not we see anyone deliver the career that she has, I don’t think that’s possible.

“I’ll just kind of chill out, follow the score to see what my warm-up is and all that, but that’s for her. I don’t know the amount of emotion she’s dealing with. I couldn’t imagine it.

“It would be so exhausting. Everyone’s talking about it, everybody wanting to know how she feels.

“I just want her to enjoy the moment. I’m sure she’ll have a lot of nostalgic feelings out there. Hopefully, she wins. I wouldn’t want to see her lose.

“It would be a pretty cool story if she went out with a great result.”