Kyrgios sends ‘reminder to put you in your place’ after setting up Tsitsipas tie

With Nick Kyrgios, you never know quite what you’re going to get. Two days after he struggled past Paul Jubb and spat in the direction of a fan who he said was abusing him, the Australian produced a flawless performance to march into the third round, the kind of display that, if he were to reproduce on a consistent basis, would make him a world-beater.

Filip Krajinovic reached the final at Queen’s Club less than two weeks ago but the Serb was blown away, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 by Kyrgios, in full flight, with 50 winners to just 10 unforced errors, 24 aces and a phenomenal day on serve, which saw him lose just nine points. “Just wanted to remind everyone that I’m pretty good,” he said. Today from the get-go, I just felt really good. From the back of the court I felt like I really returned well. I was just very just locked in from the get-go today. I just wanted to prove to people that I’m really good. I feel like I just don’t have the respect sometimes, you know?”

This was Kyrgios at his best, blitzing an opponent who has been enjoying the most consistent year of his life. In the first set, the 27-year-old did not drop a single point on serve, he never lost concentration and some of his shot-making was verging on the absurd. If he plays like that in the next round, even against someone as good as fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, he’ll take some stopping.

Kyrgios said what happened against Jubb in round one, and the subsequent headlines his behaviour provoked, made him even more determined to put on a show. “I was pretty disappointed in my performance in the first round. Then obviously the media’s disrespect and just everything, it was just kind of a reminder to put you all back in your place from the performance today. He made