Nick Kyrgios has made a winning return to the court for the first time in 12 months, claiming a thrilling three-set win over Alexandre Muller at the Murray River Open.
Kyrgios was stunned early by the world no. 209, who took the opening set 6-3, before steadying to claim the final two sets to run out a 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-4) win.
The 25-year-old’s match was not without drama, fighting through an injury scare in the second set before he was involved in a back-and-forth with chair umpire Adel Nour in the third-set tiebreaker.
Kyrgios took charge of the tiebreaker when he stormed out to a 4-1 lead, but was left frustrated when Muller won three consecutive points to tie it up 4-4.
The Australian stormed through his service games for the majority of the contest, and was left annoyed when a ball boy did not have the ball ready for him on time prior to a point which he eventually lost.
But the drama with the ball kids was not the only talking point from the contest, with Kyrgios seemingly struggling with an apparent knee injury in the second set.
He came into the match with his left leg bandaged and appeared to grimace after a number of points during the second set.
Kyrgios requested, and was granted, a medical timeout at the end of the second set and had his left knee area worked on by the physio, but appeared to run out the remainder of the match uninhibited.
“Any opponent for me was going to be tricky,” Kyrgios said after the match.
“I just wanted to find my feet, see how I felt out here and, again, I somehow pulled it out of the hat. It seems to be the story of my career, so I’m just happy to get through.”
The win means Kyrgios moves onto the second round, where he will face fellow Australian Harry Bourchier, who defeated countryman Marc Polmans in the first round.
Source: Nine Wide World of Sports.
