Duckworth claims shock Brisbane tennis win

Australian wildcard James Duckworth upset French sixth seed Gilles Simon in the Brisbane International first round on Monday.

World No.125 Duckworth blew away Simon – ranked 104 places higher than the NSW 22-year-old – in just over an hour at Pat Rafter Arena.

There were great expectations for an Australian wildcard at the Brisbane International – but that was rising star Thanasi Kokkinakis.

World No.149 Kokkinakis, 18, is tipped for a bright future after earning Davis Cup selection last year along with fellow member of the “Special Ks” – 19-year-old Wimbledon quarter-finalist Nick Kyrgios.

However, Duckworth stole the early limelight in Brisbane by overpowering former world No.6 Simon.

Former Australian Open quarter-finalist Simon had no answer to Duckworth’s power, dropping the first four games of the match.

Duckworth sealed the first set in just 30 minutes before a shellshocked Simon tried to regroup at Pat Rafter Arena but to no avail.

Duckworth is on track for a potential quarter-final showdown with Roger Federer.

Duckworth comes from reasonable tennis stock – his grandmother, Beryl Penrose won the Australian Open singles and doubles in 1955.

Simon was the overwhelming favourite after an impressive finish to the 2014 season, downing Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka on the way to his second ATP Masters 1000 final in Shanghai where he fell to Federer.

Kokkinakis next takes on French eighth seed Julien Benneteau at Pat Rafter Arena.

Fellow Australian Bernard Tomic will also feature in first round centre court action in Monday’s evening session.

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