Day Two in the Men’s Draw at the Brisbane International featured defending champion Nick Kyrgios, former world number one Andy Murray, and current Australian number one Alex de Minaur.
Day Two of the ASB Classic in Auckland showcased defending champion Julia Goerges and legend Venus Williams.
BRISBANE
ATP first round
Nick Kyrgios (8) faced Ryan Harrison, the man he defeated in last years final.
The opening six games of set one were dominated by the serve, Harrison winning eight of nine points on his first delivery, Kyrgios nine of eleven. Kyrgios had served 8 aces already.
Still, Harrison took him to deuce in game six. Two aces in a love game and the American led 4-3.
Only a handful of rallies extended more than five shots, as the pair raced to a tie break in just a tick over half an hour.
The first point against serve in the tiebreak was won by Kyrgios, after a Harrison backhand found the net. 3-1 to the Australian.
At 2-4, a wild Kyrgios forehand surrendered his advantage and Harrison soon levelled at 4-4. Nick once again took control, thanks to another backhand blunder off Ryan’s racquet, but the chance to serve out the set was wasted when the Australian hit the net.
An ace produced the first set point for Kyrgios, on the Harrison serve.
After a quality rally - lasting an unusually long 22 shots - Kyrgios won the tiebreak and set with a forehand winner 7-6(5).
Through four games of set two, Kyrgios was winning almost all points on first serve, whereas Harrison was relying on his second delivery to win his points. 2-2 was the result and no break chances in sight. The closest was deuce for Nick in the opening game. A 20th ace was clocked up for Kyrgios in the third game.
Harrison survived deuce in the sixth game, clinching it with an ace, his 13th.
Down 3-4, but on serve, Harrison dished up an ace for 15-15. A double fault followed but a quality serve saved him temporarily from a break point scenario.
Kyrgios then sent a backhand into dangerous territory and for the first time in the match, a break point appeared.
Saved with composure at the net. A second break opportunity came, and this was also saved well. Significant service hold from Harrison and 4-4.
Two sizzling American returns and now Kyrgios was down 0-30. A winner and three aces fixed things 5-4 with 27 aces.
Two Harrison errors and a Kyrgios winner and it was 6-7(5) 4-5 0-40, three match points facing Harrison. He won the next five points to level at 5-5.
From 40-15, Kyrgios dropped serve, and Harrison served out the set 7-5.
Set three continued the trend of serving dominance, only one break point occurring, and that saved by Kyrgios.
The inevitable tie break saw five un-returnable serves before Harrison pushed a forehand wide and Kyrgios led 4-2. This extended to 6-3 and three more match points. Two were saved with the American serve, but Kyrgios didn’t waste the third when he slammed another big delivery to win 7-6(5) 5-7 7-6(5). 44 aces.
Other first round results:
Andy Murray defeated wildcard James Duckworth 6-3 6-4
Jeremy Chardy defeated Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6 6-3 6-4
Denis Kudla defeated Taylor Fritz 7-6(5) 6-7(2) 6-4
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6(6) 6-4
Alex de Minaur (7) defeated wildcard Alexei Popyrin 6-2 6-2
Jordan Thompson defeated Alex Bolt 6-3 6-0
AUCKLAND
WTA first round
Kirsten Flipkens (7) defeated Sachia Vickery 6-2 6-2
Sofia Kenin defeated Petra Martic (4) 7-5 2-6 6-2
Qualifier Bibiane Schoofs defeated Alison Van Uytvanck (8) 3-4 (retired)
Su-Wei Hsieh (3) defeated Polona Hercog 6-2 6-3
Barbora Strycova (5) defeated Taylor Townsend 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3
Mona Barthel defeated qualifier Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2 7-6(1)
Julia Goerges (2) defeated Johanna Larsson 6-0 6-4
Wildcard Amanda Anisimova defeated qualifier Jana Cepelova 6-2 3-0 (retired)
Venus Williams (6) defeated Vika Azarenka 6-3 1-6 6-3
Canadian teenage qualifier Bianca Andreescu defeated Timea Babos 6-4 7-6(6)
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