Slick Nick Kyrgios plays it straight at Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios continued a strong summer while also capping a stellar day for Australians.

Nick Kyrgios returns a shot through his legs during his first round win over Lorenzo Sonego Picture: AAP

Nick Kyrgios continued a strong summer while also capping a stellar day for Australians with a strong opening round win on Melbourne Arena on Tuesday night.

An Australian Open quarter-finalist five years ago, the 24-year-old began his 2020 campaign stylishly with a 6-2 7-6 (3) 7-6 (1) win.

He awaits the winner of a clash between French veteran Gilles Simon and Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas in a match that was yet to begin by 10pm on Tuesday night.

Kyrgios had played solely team events since being placed on probation by the ATP Tour last September but was on his own courtside on Tuesday.

“It is definitely tough. I have a great team behind me … and I definitely did not feel alone. I felt strong and I am ready to go again,” he said.

The Australian said Sonego presented a big threat and he was thrilled to produce under pressure in the second and third sets.

“I was just really excited to get out here,” he said. “I just wanted to come out here and put on a good performance. I was really excited. It was awesome. He is a tough competitor. A very good player.”

A winner of two titles on the ATP Tour in 2019, it is now two years since Kyrgios reached the second week of a grand slam. But his victory over Sonego was another step forward in what has been a promising January.

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When Australian No 1 Alex de Minaur was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open last week with an abdominal injury, it did temper hopes of local success.

Kyrgios became the sixth Australian man to progress to the second round after the successes of John Millman, Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin, Alex Bolt and Marc Polmans.

For the most part, it is a case of so far, so good in the men’s ranks, with several stellar performances from local performers.

James Duckworth and Chris O’Connell fell, but both produced strong performances and can consider themselves stiff, while Max Purcell was also beaten by young star Jannik Sinner.

Ajla Tomljanovic and Arina Rodionova also progressed when joining world No 1 Ash Barty in the second round.

But there was a moment of concern early in the third set, with the Canberran pulling up short after a point and clutching at his hip. He did not appear to be overly troubled in his movements afterwards.

He downplayed suggestions he had suffered an issue and said he would refresh for Thursday’s match. “I just move like a giraffe sometimes. I tripped over. I am pretty dramatic sometimes. But that was it,” he said.

Kyrgios has performed soundly all summer, with his consistency from the baseline and ability to hold his temperament and concentration a feature that has been pleasantly surprising.

His only defeat came at the hands of world No 10 Roberto Bautista-Agut in the semi-finals of the ATP Cup. Otherwise he played well for Australia in Brisbane and Sydney and also in an exhibition at Kooyong against Grigor Dimitrov.

All the while he was the face for tennis’s fundraising effort for the bushfire crisis.

His form is holding. And so too his temper, which is necessary as he is playing under the threat of a suspension. And this continued against Sonego. In the opening set, Kyrgios was electric from 2-all. He was able to secure his first break after a determined effort to stamp his authority on the match.

The second set was a far tighter affair as Sonego produced some sterling all-court tennis while also lifting his success rate on serve. But the delivery betrayed the Italian on the opening point of the tiebreaker when he double-faulted.

The Australian has superb touch and this came to the fore when, while leading 2-1 in the tiebreaker, he was able to produce a superb off-forehand drop shot from a difficult position.

A precise double-handed backhand directed down the line at 5-3 drew an error from the Italian and Kyrgios was able to clinch a two-set lead with another drop shot.