Two doubles partners, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis showed their singles wildcard slots were well deserved last night, as the two managed to defeat their opponents in 42 degree heat.
Last year’s Juniors Grand slam winner, Nick Kyrgios battled a shoulder injury but managed to fight back against German veteran Benjamin Becker and secure a win in four exhausting sets.
Two aces on the last two points of the fourth set tie-break sealed the win, impressively ending in 6-3 6-7(5) 6-2 7-6(2) against the world 81st.
He was so thrilled with his win, he easily chatted with the crowd, gave away his towel and even offered the remainder of his bananas.
Kyrgios had his family watching from the stands that made the win a little bit sweeter.
“I think this time was a lot better,” he said about his win.
“My whole family was there, my friends and the home support.”
His good friend, Thanasi Kokkinakis recovered from a second-set blunder to down Dutchman Igor Sijsling 7-6(4) 0-6 7-6(3) 6-2 on Tuesday night.
At just 17 and the youngest entrant in the Open, the Adelaide local managed to show age is never a factor in this game, breaking serves and winning an
impressive third set tie breaker.
The final set was a setback for Kokkinakis, struggling with a cramp, but he battled through the pain to win 6-2.
The win had Kokkinakis high fiving the whole court, something he didn’t expect to happen.
“I was trying to pick [my friends] out,” he said.
“When I kind of high fived my mates everyone else had their hand out, so I went around with it. It was good fun.”
Kokkinakis will play Bernard Tomic’s opponent, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, on Thursday.