Curses as Nick Kyrgios sizzles to victory

Nick Kyrgios put himself on course for a much-anticipated third-round match against Roger Federer but only after a four-letter outburst about the cloying heat of Flushing Meadows.

The 23-year-old Australian beat Moldova’s Radu Albot 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 but was unhappy in the steaming temperatures that have marked the opening few days of the US Open.

Kyrgios could not hide his discomfort in the second set and heard yelling at his support bench: ‘I’m ****ed, my legs are ****ed. I’m cooked, I’m ****ing done. I can’t play.’

Having recovered to assert his quality, Kyrgios later criticised the last-minute implementation of regulations designed to safeguard players in extreme conditions.

‘The heat can become dangerous at times and I don’t think we had a heat rule and we made one up today, right?’ said the 30th seed. ‘That’s just ridiculous. We should have a heat rule. It’s not healthy to be out there getting dizzy and stuff — and the poor ball kids out there! There should definitely be a heat rule looked at and put into place.’

If Kyrgios can beat France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the second round he is on course to meet Federer, an opponent who always seems to bring out the best in him.

The Australian could be heard cursing and swearing several times as temperatures soared

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 20-year-old Greek right-hander who has raced up to No 15 in the world rankings, became an early casualty when he was upset 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 by Russia’s world No 36 Daniil Medvedev.

Defending women’s champion Sloane Stephens looked to be in trouble against Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina but after a 10-minute break following the second set she came through 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. 

Should Kyrgios beat Pierre Hugues-Herbert, he will play Roger Federer in round two