Nick Kyrgios begins his 2018 season in the second round at the Brisbane International when he takes on in-form countryman Matthew Ebden. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 3:30pm (AEDT).
Kyrgios, ranked 21 in the world, seems primed for the new season, but then, he has so many times before.
Australia’s most maligned sports star has proven what he is made of on the Davis Cup stage, but had a disappointing 2017 in grand slams and he will be looking to turn things around.
Building form in Brisbane will prove to be a key part of his tilt at the first major of the year, and with many of the top players battling injury and form woes, the 22-year-old’s chances have never been better.
Still, he will be keen to impress in Brisbane first. He has spent the start of his season for the last few years at the Hopman Cup in Perth, a tournament which has generally suited the firebrand Aussie.
His serve and offensive weapons should be too much for most of the field in Brisbane to handle though, with the Aussie coming off the back of an injury-plagued second half of 2017. Still, he made it to a final in Beijing, losing to Rafael Nadal before bringing the curtain down on his season to focus on rehabbing a hip.
Ebden, on the other hand, was superb at the back end of 2017 and after an injury forced Nadal out, he was granted an automatic main draw place in Brisbane, not having to rely on a wildcard.
That came after he finished 2017 on a high note, making it to the quarter-finals of a Challenger tournament in Hua Hin. He rose back into the top 100, finishing the year at 80 and securing his place at the Australian Open in a fortnight.
In the first round, he came up against young gun American Frances Tiafoe. In a match he was expected to be an outsider in, but he came away with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory, which has paved the way for him to have a strong Aussie summer.
Kyrgios will be a huge step up for Edben, but if he can lengthen the points, make Kyrgios work hard and get under his skin, then anything is possible with the feeling always there that Kyrgios could lose the plot at any moment.
Prediction
You never quite know what you’ll get from Kyrgios, but he should be up for this at the start of a new season in his home country. If he wins, it could be over quickly.
Kyrgios in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Brisbane International from around 3:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me on The Roar this afternoon for our live coverage of the 2018 Brisbane International as Nick Kyrgios advanced to the quarter-finals with a three-set win over fellow Aussie Matthew Ebden. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Join me again this evening from 8pm (AEDT) as Alex De Minaur looks to cause the upset of his life against Milos Raonic. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kyrgios will play doubles - there's the answer to that in his post-match interview.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
The interesting question now is whether Kyrgios will be able to play doubles with Matt Reid in a couple of hours or not.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kyrgios will play Alexander Dolgopolov on Friday in the quarter-finals. Three games in three days to the final from there, with a QF Friday, SF Saturday and the final on Sunday if he gets that far.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH NICK KYRGIOS Fault for Kyrgios. The second is an ACE! What a way to close it out. Down the T and Ebden can't do anything about it, Kyrgios walking to the net with a swivel of the racquet. Very, very good win that for Kyrgios. He had to shake off a knee injury and come back from a set down. You get the feeling Kyrgios of 12 months ago would have given that away pretty easily. Ebden put on a really good show there though. Great match in the end. Nick Kyrgios 6 7 6 Matthew Ebden 7 6 2
Scott Pryde
Expert
That awkward time of the afternoon now in Brisbane where the sun is setting and covers half the court. Anyway, Kyrgios with a fault, then one at the body. Not a bad return, but Kyrgios is all over him, Ebden eventually sending a backhand long. Two match points. Kyrgios 6 7 5 - 40 Ebden 7 6 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kyrgios with a fault. Ebden with a good backhand return, then he gets to one near the net before Kyrgios puts a backhand into the net, playing it from behind him. Kyrgios 6 7 5 - 30 Ebden 7 6 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Huge serve down the T. Kyrgios having a bit of fun now as he comes forward and jumps up for an overhead winner, playing it at head height in the end. Kyrgios 6 7 5 - 30 Ebden 7 6 2 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kyrgios serving for the match. He starts with a fault, then goes out wide with Ebden returning on a forehand. Great defence, but he can't answer a forehand down the line as Kyrgios takes the ball early inside the baseline. Kyrgios 6 7 5 - 15 Ebden 7 6 2 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kyrgios up a double break! Serve down the middle and Kyrgios saves it, then defends expertly before whacking a passing shot on a tight angle past an advancing Ebden. Kyrgios to serve for the match. Kyrgios 6 7 5 - Ebden 7 6 2 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Two break points. Ebden misses a forehand, and these are just about match points. Kyrgios 6 7 4 - 40 Ebden 7 6 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Serve and volley this time from Ebden. Kyrgios answers it well with a great attempted passing shot, Ebden missing the forehand reflex shot. Kyrgios 6 7 4 - 30 Ebden 7 6 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Unreturnable serve this time. Kyrgios 6 7 4 - 15 Ebden 7 6 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve and Kyrgios blocks it back into play near the sideline before Ebden puts a running backhand wide. Kyrgios 6 7 4 - 15 Ebden 7 6 2 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Ebden returns serve well here, but Kyrgios quickly puts that point away with a series of forehands. He is two games away. Kyrgios 6 7 4 - Ebden 7 6 2 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Body serve from Kyrgios, but a good return at the feet of Kyrgios and he puts a backhand into the net. Kyrgios 6 7 3 - 40 Ebden 7 6 2 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Ebden has done a sensational job to keep that serve in. He then comes up with a drop shot and clearly the knee isn't bothering Kyrgios there. How on Earth did he get to that, let alone hit it on an extreme angle to win the point! Kyrgios 6 7 3 - 40 Ebden 7 6 2 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Kyrgios. The second is down the middle and returned on the snap forehand, before Kyrgios hits a backhand-forehand combo with Ebden finding the net. Kyrgios 6 7 3 - 30 Ebden 7 6 2 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Kyrgios starts this service game with a big one down the T. Kyrgios 6 7 3 - 15 Ebden 7 6 2 - 0