By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, May 30, 2015
Andy Murray swept Nick Kyrgios for the second straight major, rolling into the Roland Garros round of 16 for the sixth time.
Photo credit: Roland Garros
The score line wasn't a punch line, but Nick Kyrgios nearly cracked Andy Murray up anyway.
From the tweener lob winner he produced in the opening set to the audacious angled drop volley winner he pulled out in the third set, the colorful Kyrgios delivered shot-making moments that entertained the masses — including Murray.
Kyrgios scored his share of style points, but Murray controlled the critical points.
Video: Kyrgios Wows With Tweener in Paris
The third-seeded Scot schooled the 20-year-old Kyrgios, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, roaring into the Roland Garros round of 16 for the sixth time and raising his 2015 clay-court record to 13-0.
It marked Murray's second straight major win over Kyrgios, following his straight-sets triumph in the Australian Open quarterfinals earlier this year.
The two-time Grand Slam champion carved up a wounded Kyrgios, who took an injury time-out after falling behind 2-5 in the second set to have his troublesome right elbow taped. Kyrgios's explosive serve is one of his biggest shots, but his arm issues — and Murray's sniper return game — nullified that weapon.
Murray hit 10 more aces (12 to 2), won nearly half of the points played on the 29th-seeded Aussie's first serve and broke seven times.
"I have watched a lot of his matches, so obviously I know what his personality is like. He does have a game style and a personality on the court that lends itself to playing big matches on big courts," Murray said afterward. "Sometimes you don't feel like you're able to control what's happening out there because he's hitting huge shots and sometimes playing shots that no one else tries. So you're not expecting it, either. So it's obviously tricky to feel comfortable on the court and feel like you're in a rhythm. That's why he's had so many good results, because he takes you out of your comfort zone a bit."
Kyrgios, who upset Rafael Nadal en route to the 2014 Wimbledon quarterfinals, said his elbow injury—and Murray's ability to absorb pace and dispense variety—were too much to overcome. Kyrgios has wins over both Nadal and Roger Federer, but has yet to take a set from Murray in three meetings.
"Murray, I think he's one of the best defenders of the game at the moment. Obviously matchup is key thing in tennis, but today I wasn't near 100 percent," Kyrgios said. "Not to take anything from him. He played unbelievable. I don't think he served well, but he made a lot of returns and he just does what he does best: that's make a lot of balls and mix up the game. He was too good."
Following Murray's victory on Court Suzanne Lenglen, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic deconstructed 19-year-old Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, on Court Philippe Chatrier. Djokovic, who has not dropped a set in the tournament, cruised into the fourth round for the sixth straight year.
The top seed was imposing on serve. Djokovic served 76 percent, dropped only nine points on his first serve and did not face a break point in extending his winning streak to 25 matches.
It was a day of Grand Slam champions delivering major lessons to talented young opponents.
Wild card Kokkinakis denied three match points fighting past 27th-seeded Bernard Tomic, 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 8-6 in the second round for his first Top 100 match-win on clay. Kokkinakis lacked the legs and heavy strikes necessary to trouble the Australian Open champion.
Playing cross-court combinations with conviction, and picking the right times to wrong-foot his inexperienced opponent with down the line drives, Djokovic jerked Kokkinakis around Court Chatrier.
Continuing his quest to complete the career Grand Slam, Djokovic will play either Richard Gasquet or Kevin Anderson for a spot in the quarterfinals — and potential blockbuster clash with nine-time champion Nadal.
Murray raised his record to 12-0 against Australian opponents, but remains impressed by young Aussies Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, his frequent practice partner and sometime doubles partner.
"I think all of those [young] guys are good for the game," Murray said in his post-match press conference. "I mean, some of them — Nick and Thanasi — are pretty fun, outgoing, you know, personalities off the court and on it. Then there is some of the younger guys that aren't like that, like a Coric, for example, he's a little bit different to them. Chung, as well, different personality. I think that's good. I think when everyone is the same that's not as much fun for everyone, but I enjoy watching those two. I enjoy watching Thanasi and Nick play. They are entertaining."
The man whose last Grand Slam title came on grass at the 2013 Wimbledon has been dynamic on dirt playing the best clay-court tennis of his career.
Success breeds success. Forgoing a full honeymoon following his marriage to long-time girlfriend Kim Sears last month, Murray went right back to work at the 250 tournament level in Munich.
Winning his first career ATP clay-court title with a thrilling 7-6, 5-7, 7-6 decision over German's Philipp Kohlschreiber in Munich, followed by his stunning Madrid championship triumph over Nadal empowered Murray with the confidence — and match play — for a Roland Garros run.
"I think winning the [Munich] tournament and changing my schedule helped a lot," Murray said. "I never played any of the smaller events on the tour, on clay, and getting my first win on clay helped, for sure. I feel that that was a good decision from me and my team there. And then also physically, as well.
"I gave myself time to get used to the surface, and a surface I struggled with with my back for a few years and gave myself a proper training period, built it up slowly, and made a few changes to the way that I preferred for this clay court season. That was, I think, they are the things that I have changed and the things that have helped me."