Andy Murray successfully tamed his dangerous first-round opponent Nick Kyrgios as the British number one sealed a controlled four-set victory at the US Open.
Kyrgios produced a typically explosive display under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium but Murray’s touch and precision were a class above as the Briton won 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-1.
Murray has now won all four of his meetings against Kyrgios, including three at grand slams this year, and the Scot will now face France’s Adrian Mannarino in round two.
All the pre-match talk had been of Kyrgios’ knack for controversy following his spat with Stan Wawrinka and the 20-year-old had newly-appointed mentor Lleyton Hewitt watching on from the players’ box.
There were trick shots, racket slams and the usual complaints to the umpire but Murray was clinical amid the chaos and never really looked troubled.
“He’s unpredictable and he can play all the shots,” Murray said. “He served extremely well, he’s a fantastic athlete who covers the court extremely well and it’s tough to get it out of his strike zone.
“It was a very tricky match. I just fought hard, mixed it up and managed to get through.”
Murray started nervously as he framed a ball into the crowd before an attempted drop-shot failed even to reach the net.
Kyrgios capitalised, breaking his opponent’s serve, but the lead was short-lived as the Australian wandered into a missed drop-shot and then crashed a wild forehand long.
Back on serve, Kyrgios was trying to hit winners from all over the court and while some flew in, more flew out as Murray simply rode out the spectacular and waited for the mistake.
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It made for enthralling viewing and the crowd were left in hysterics when Kyrgios fielded a Murray lob through his legs before slapping away a forehand winner with his very next shot.
There were the usual grumbles to the umpire, as Kyrgios moaned at one changeover: “What the hell are they doing letting people in in the middle of the game?” – but in the points Murray remained in charge.
Serving to stay in the set at 5-4, Kyrgios saved Murray’s first set point with an audacious drop-shot but two games later, the Briton converted with a driving backhand to take a one-set lead.
As the match drifted in Murray’s favour, Kyrgios’ concentration decreased and after missing three break points, the youngster threw away his own service game with three sloppy errors.
Murray is a stud.I hope people realize how massive his tennis IQ is when they are watching him..If I wanted a scouting report he’d be my guy
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) September 2, 2015
Trailing 4-2, Kyrgios spurned four more break points and the chance for a fifth when he opted to hit long a half-volley through his legs, rather than finish into an open court.
Murray’s focus remained fixed throughout and the Briton, outmanoeuvring his opponent with control and precision, coolly served out for a two-set advantage.
Kygrios finally found a break at the start of the third set but, just as he had in the first set, immediately gave it back as Murray broke to love for 2-1.
It seemed inevitable Murray would make his experience count again but as Kyrgios knuckled down, the world number three wavered and a double fault helped his opponent clinch the third set.
With the momentum in his favour, Kyrgios took a toilet break, returned to the court without his sleeves and then received an audible obscenity warning from umpire Carlos Ramos as Murray broke in the very first game.
It was one-way traffic thereafter as a Kyrgios double fault handed Murray a double break for 5-1 before a looping forehand out confirmed the Scot’s victory in two hours and 43 minutes.
