Showman Kyrgios goes from sick-bed to second round

MELBOURNE: Nick Kyrgios promised COVID-weary fans a show after recovering from his own infection and duly delivered on Tuesday (Jan 18) with a tweener-laden 6-4 6-4 6-3 win over Briton Liam Broady to reach the Australian Open second round.

Kyrgios matches are box office gold but have dwindled through the pandemic, and there was danger home fans would miss the Australian at Melbourne Park this year after he tested positive in the leadup.

But after exiting isolation on Sunday, the tennis maverick returned to the combustible John Cain Arena and gave raucous fans a night to remember as he set up a blockbuster clash with second seed Daniil Medvedev.

Sealing the win with a furious backhand return down the line, Kyrgios dropped an "F-bomb" in his televised on-court interview and performed Cristiano Ronaldo's trademark post-goal celebration.

On his way out of the arena, he took a swig of beer from a cup offered by a fan. COVID-19 be damned.

"I served ... well today," said Kyrgios with an obscenity as fans roared in agreement.

"I don’t know what I have done to this crowd as you guys are a zoo now. I am super happy to be here again."

It took only minutes for Kyrgios to ignite the terraces by breaking Broady in the opening game. He closed out the next game with an under-arm "tweener".

Having lit a fire in the crowd, Kyrgios proved unable to control it, as fans hooted between serves and yelled at Broady to go home.

"I kind of know I've created this ... show, anyway," he said to chair umpire Nico Helwerth, urging the German to do more to quell the commotion.

Relegated to the straight man in Kyrgios's routine, there was little for 128th-ranked qualifier Broady to do but grin and bear it as fans jeered and 41 winners fired past him.

"Everyone is