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Nick Kyrgios began his US Open hardcourt run with a 6-3 4-6 6-4 victory over Fernando Verdasco on Tuesday under the watchful eye of new mentor Lleyton Hewitt at the ATP Montreal Masters.
The world No.41 is working alongside Australia’s double grand slam winner in an informal capacity, with the 34-year-old Hewitt happy to help out the 20-year-old.
But Kyrgios says the arrangement remains flexible and fluid, with Hewitt also attending to his own business on court as he goes into the final months of a career due to end early in 2016 after playing in his last Australian Open.
“He’s not my coach. Let’s clear that up now,” said Kyrgios after his victory in 95 minutes over Spain’s Verdasco in a first-time meeting featuring 15 aces off the Aussie racquet.
“He’s more of a mentor. Lleyton is very kind to take time away from his family and his career to help me and Thanasi (Kokkinakis). We don’t know how long it will last but it is a great help.
“I came from a place (Canberra) where it’s really cold right now. I’ve been practising indoors.
“Conditions here are tough, and the humidity doesn’t help,” he said after a two-hour rain delay in Montreal. “I’ve never sweated so much as I did today.”
Kyrgios called his win over Verdasco acceptable: “I was pleased to get a win over a quality opponent,” he said before moving into a second-round clash with French Open champion and third seed Stan Wawrinka. “I’m really happy with myself. The courts here are bouncy and lively. I knew I had to take control even if I didn’t serve that well.
“I’m pleased with how I finished in the third set. I competed well and that’s the main thing.
“Stan is playing unbelievable tennis. He’s got a big everything – forehand, backhand. I’ll go out there, play my game and see how it goes.”
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic began his US Open preparation defeating Thomaz Bellucci 6-3 7-6 (7-4), advancing to the third round.
In his first appearance since winning Wimbledon, the Serb recorded his 250th win at the Masters 1000 level, having won his past five events dating back to Paris last November.
Djokovic will face American Jack Sock or 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov. Sock beat Adrian Mannarino in three sets, while Dimitrov eliminated Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4 7-5.
“It was a very intense match for both players,” Djokovic said of Bellucci. “There was a lot of tension and a very high quality.
“I’m happy to have earned the win. I played well on the big points.”
In the first round, holder Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the French 10th seed, downed Borna Coric 6-4, 6-4 and Czech Lukas Rosol upset South African 12th seed Kevin Anderson in two tiebreakers.
Belgian 13th seed David Goffin put out American Steve Johnson 6-2 6-2, and John Isner struggled past Germany’s Benjamin Becker in three.
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