Andy Murray tames Aussie bad boy Nick Kyrgios as British No 1 gets US Open off to solid start with four-set victory

  • Andy Murray beat Nick Kyrgios 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in the first round
  • Murray progresses to the second round to face France's Adrian Mannarino
  • Kyrgios threatened a comeback by taking the third set
  • But Murray was too solid in the end at Flushing Meadows 

At times this was like watching a cross between WWE wrestling, with Andy Murray the straight man and Nick Kyrgios the villain-cum-crowdpleaser.

In the end the straight man won, with the 28-year-old Scot coming through in impressively efficient but not exactly sublime fashion, ignoring the multiple disractions to win 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in two hours and 43 minutes. He will now face the relatively unknown and slightly unorthodox left-hander Adrian Mannarino of France, the world No 37.

While it ended in a similarly convincing scoreline to their previous three encounters, the match rated highly for entertainment value. That was largely thanks to the so-called 'Bad Boy' of tennis and his unpredictable, often extravagant shotmaking delivered from his slightly hunched frame. 

Andy Murray (left) shakes hands with Kyrgios after coming out on top in their US Open clash

Andy Murray (left) shakes hands with Nick Kyrgios after coming out on top in their US Open clash

Murray celebrates on his way to securing his place in the second round of the final Grand Slam of the year

Murray celebrates on his way to securing his place in the second round of the final Grand Slam of the year

Murray runs to his right to play the forehand in defence as he faced a tough opening task in New York

Murray runs to his right to play the forehand in defence as he faced a tough opening task in New York

Nick Kyrgios chills on his courtside chair during a changeover as the US Open ball-boys look on

Kyrgios chills on his courtside chair during a changeover as the US Open ball-boys look on

Hyperactive throughout, Kyrgios is not a purist's delight and occasionally looked like he was more interested in showing off than actually winning the match.


Yet he also showcased a remarkable and sometimes wayward talent that promises so much if he could ever get his head in order. Murray could never afford to relax and had 14 break points against him, only three of which were converted.

There were between-the-legs shots, screaming winners and horrendous errors. Murray kept his head and was as solid as needed, setting himself up well for the challenges ahead. He was glad to have got this one over and done with. 

Murray hits a backhand during his first-round match at the US Open on Tuesday night

Murray hits a backhand during his first-round match at the US Open on Tuesday night

Kyrgios reaches to his left to play a backhand as the Aussie wowed the crowd in New York

Kyrgios reaches to his left to play a backhand as the Aussie wowed the crowd in New York

Kyrgios plays a half-volley through his legs in just one of many entertaining moments during the match

Kyrgios plays a half-volley through his legs in just one of many entertaining moments during the match

Aussie legend Lleyton Hewitt watches the match from Kyrgios's box on Arthur Ashe Stadium

Aussie legend Lleyton Hewitt watches the match from Kyrgios's box on Arthur Ashe Stadium

'It was very tricky,' said Murray. 'He is unpredictable and can play all the shots, and is a fantastic athlete. It's hard to keep the ball out of his strike zone.

'The beginning of the fourth set was important, I got the momentum straight back. I felt I served pretty well in the match and got some free points but it was tough, I had to do a lot of defending and running.'

This was the first time the British No 1 has played on Arthur Ashe Stadium with its half constructed roof, which clearly changes the nature of the vast arena. The wind is largely stilled and the hum and chatter of the crowd is incubated.

The Scot looked a bit non-plussed by it at first and Kyrgios struck the opening blow, breaking for 2-1 before getting carried away with himself and over-hitting several times to hand the advantage straight back.

We then began to see the first over showmanship from the constantly chuntering Australian, who keeps up a dialogue with his support box and anyone who cares to listen to him in the crowd. 

Murray shows his frustrations on his courtside chair as he dropped the third set against Kyrgios

Murray shows his frustrations on his courtside chair as he dropped the third set against Kyrgios

Murray gestures during his opening match at Flushing Meadows under the lights

Murray gestures during his opening match at Flushing Meadows under the lights

Kyrgios prepares to return against Murray in a blockbuster first-round clash

Kyrgios prepares to return against Murray in a blockbuster first-round clash

In the seventh game he deliberately avoided a smash so he could hit a ball from between his legs with his back facing the court, and in the next game attempted a slam dunk smash that spun off his frame. He grinned manically at his own ineptitude.

His wonderfully loose arm came up with blistering serves and forehands, but Murray's consistency was starting to cause problems and Kyrgios saved a set point at 4-5 with an audacious drop shot.

But the Scot was creating pressure and he converted his next break point at 6-5 with a driven backhand return winner. Kyrgios screamed into his towel and went and reclined in his director's chair with his head slumped back.

There is no doubt the crowd warmed to the Australian, whatever his prior reputation, and his game style gave the world No 3 no rhythm and plenty of discomfort as he remained stonefaced.

Murray needed to save four break points in the fifth game of the second set and then a frustrated Kyrgios played his next service game at a ridiculously quick pace, slamming a succession of errors to concede a 2-4 deficit. 

Murray plays the return on a night on which he was too solid for his unpredictable opponent

Murray plays the return on a night on which he was too solid for his unpredictable opponent

Murray's wife Kim arrives to watch the match on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday evening

Murray's wife Kim arrives to watch the match on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday evening

A general view of Arthur Ashe Stadium as Murray takes on Kyrgios under the lights in the Big Apple

A general view of Arthur Ashe Stadium as Murray takes on Kyrgios under the lights in the Big Apple

The Scot, likely to face the same opponent in the Davis Cup semi-final – how Kyrgios will react to the Glasgow crowd is anyone's guess – needed to save another quartet of break points before taking what was his tenth set in succession off his young foe.

Kyrgios broke his duck by taking the third and Murray suffered several mental lapses and the Australian began to dictate with his forehand.

Yet he could not keep it up and received a code violation for an audible obscenity when broken at the start of the fourth – not that Murray was a saint in that regard either. This was where the Australian could have made life hard for a straining Murray, but he went a double break down by hitting a double fault with a 119mph second serve.

That summed up Kyrgios's night. Erratic, powerful, ambitious and somewhat unfathomable.

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