By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday June 14, 2022
Nick Kyrgios’ presence on the grass is creating some mouthwatering matchups this summer. Already the Aussie faced Andy Murray in a heavily anticipated battle, won by the Brit in the semifinals last week at Stuttgart.
This week’s blockbuster comes earlier, as Kyrgios has set a second-round matchup with second-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in Halle, after both came through their opening-round matches on Tuesday.
Kyrgios waltzed past Daniel Altmaier of Germany, 6-3, 7-5, the Aussie dropping just 12 points on serve and never facing a break point against the World No.66. Kyrgios improves to 13-5 on the season with his win.
Tsitsipas had to go the distance with Benjamin Bonzi of France, 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-3. The Greek improved to 36-12 on the season, firing 14 aces and cracking 36 winners against 16 unforcded errors to set a clash with Kyrgios.
Kyrgios is just 10-9 on grass over the course of his career, but he remains sanguine about his hopes on the surface. Like Kyrgios, he was knocked out by Andy Murray last week in Stuggart (in the quarterfinals).
"I can say playing him on grass for sure is going to be quite difficult," Tsitsipas said of Kyrgios. "I'm just going to go out there and enjoy myself. Let's see what that brings.
"He's fired up playing on the grass-court season. I'm fired up too. I really hope to have a great match against him and be able to really sustain the level at its very highest."
Second Round Nearly Set in Halle
Daniil Medvedev and David Goffin will play the final first-round matchup in Halle on Wednesday, with the winner facing Ilya Ivashka.
The rest of the round of 16 is set at the Terra Wortmann Open:
[Q] Tallon Griekspoor vs. Roberta Bautista Agut [7]
Nikoloz Basilashvili vs. Oscar Otte
Laslo Djere vs. Karen Khachanov [8]
[5] Hubert Hurkacz v Ugo Humbert
Mackenzie McDonald vs Felix Auger-Aliassime [4]
[6] Pablo Carreno Busta vs. Sebastian Korda
Nick Kyrgios vs Stefanos Tsitsipas [2]