Agency :
Nick Kyrgios has not always found the spotlight easy to handle but the Australian maverick showed he remains one of the game’s great entertainers as he breezed into the Wimbledon third round with a 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-4 win over Gianluca Mager on Thursday.
With his usual mixture of exuberant shot-making and near constant chatter, the 26-year-old made light work of the Italian and gave the crowd plenty to enjoy.
Kyrgios went through his usual repertoire of berating officials, himself and anyone else in his vicinity but when it came to the serious business on court he was almost faultless. He saved a set point in the first set tiebreak and then roared in approval as he snatched the opener before taking the game away from his 77th-ranked opponent with some superb serving and delightful groundstrokes.
He fired down his 29th ace to bring up match point, at which stage he wandered to the stands to let an excited fan whisper something in his ear, and then sealed his spot in the next round when Mager hit a forehand long, receiving a rapturous reception from the approving crowd.
Kyrgios remains a huge fan draw wherever he plays, with his antics livening up a sport where personalities are often kept under wraps.
