Nick Kyrgios wins first-round match at Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios wins first-round match at Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios wins first-round match at Australian Open

In the John Cain Arena, Melbourne (Australia), Greek Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios didn't disappoint in his first Australian Open match.

He faced Portuguese qualifier Frederico Ferreira Silva, and came out victorious 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

After being eliminated in the fourth round of last year’s Australian Open by Rafael Nada, he has only played four matches - one in February 2020, and three in a lead-up tournament last week.

Early in the match, Nick Kyrgios took out his frustrations on his supporters' box, asking to have one member of his entourage removed.

Despite this, he was in super form and smashed nine aces tonight.

"I haven’t played a grand slam match in over a year. I was nervous coming out here, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to play my best tennis out here. But I’m just happy I got through ultimately," he said in his post match interview.

When asked how spending the past 12 months in Australia has been, he said: “I had nothing to complain about. Canberra, it was the best place in the world. I was very fortunate COVID didn’t affect me or my family. I was able to spend time with my family and it was really fun.”

Last year, Kyrgios showed his big heart and took to the streets of Canberra, to deliver food to anyone going hungry during the pandemic.

He is now through to the second round, where he will take on No.32 Ugo Humbert.

*More on GCT: Nick Kyrgios virtually visits patients at Queensland Children’s Hospital
GCT Team

This article was researched and written by a GCT team member.