Nick Kyrgios is on the brink of being suspended for four weeks after the 20-year-old Australian was fined $1,500 for his antics during a match against Andreas Haider-Maurer at the Shanghai Open on Monday.
Advertisement
Kyrgios will play world No. 6 Kei Nishikori of Japan in the second round, while Tomic is set to face No.8-ranked David Ferrer of Spain.
“At the same time I’m going to go out there and enjoy the experience”.
Having taken a brief break from a game after being overlooked by mutual agreement for Australia’s Davis Cup semi-final, Kyrgios has now compiled a 6-2 record since his return, by reaching the semi-finals in Kuala Lumpur and the quarter-finals of the Japan Open last week.
It was, nevertheless, an encouraging enough start to the tournament in a tennis sense for Kyrgios, who broke serve with the help of two Haider-Maurer double faults in the opening game, and cracked a backhand crosscourt victor for the decisive 4-2 lead in the second set before closing out the match. “You play the game to play these top guys”.
Television broadcaster ESPN also had to apologise as his swearing became audible on the televised match against Frenchman Benoit Paire.
The outspoken Australian, who fired 13 aces and saved all five break points in a 6-3, 6-2 win over his Austrian opponent, had no illusions about the task ahead.
American John Isner burnished his big-serving reputation with 20 aces in a 6-1, 6-2 romp against Adrian Mannarino, while Roberto Bautista Agut also had it easy against fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, whom he beat 6-2, 6-3.
Cilic won the last match of the day 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Advertisement
NONE of the three Chinese wildcards survived the first round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters yesterday, though local boy Wu Di’s promising performance against Marin Cilic gave fans at the Qizhong Tennis Center something to cheer.
