Nick Kyrgios reaches final eight of US Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston

Australia's Nick Kyrgios has beaten American seventh seed Tommy Paul in straight sets to storm into the last eight of the US Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston.

Australian wildcard Kyrgios, currently world number 94, maintained his impressive recent form by dispatching Paul 6-4, 6-2.

Kyrgios, who reached the fourth round at last week's Miami Open and the quarter-finals at last month's Indian Wells, followed up his first win on clay since 2019 when he beat Mackenzie McDonald in three sets on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old from Canberra was solid again on serve, blasting 10 aces and saving all six of his breaks points in the first meeting between the pair.

Nick Kyrgios defeats American Mackenzie McDonald in Houston, and pulls out an incredible tweener shot along the way. Watch the footage.

He broke world number 34 Paul in the fifth game of the first set and twice in the second to set up a clash with Michael Mmoh.

World number 226 Mmoh booked his ticket in the last eight by defeating compatriot Sam Querrey 6-2, 6-4.

Mmoh, who had a bye into the second round after top seed Casper Ruud dropped out because of a wisdom tooth problem, advanced to a tour-level quarter-final for just the third time in his career.

Querrey, 112 places above Mmho in the rankings, had reached the final in Houston twice and the last eight of this tournament in five of the previous six seasons.

AAP