Close mates Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios continue to cut a swathe through the boys’s singles field at the Australian Open.

Wildcard Kokkinakis, who is improving with every match, needed only 52 minutes to send France’s Enzo Couacaud on his way, winning their third-round encounter 6-2 6-0.

No.3 seed Kyrgios was almost as impressive, ousting fellow Australian Omar Jasika 6-4 6-3.

Kokkinakis, 16, earned plenty of plaudits when he filled in as a reserve at the Hopman Cup earlier this month.

He also took American Steve Johnson to three tough sets in the men’s qualifying competition at Melbourne Park, before losing 17-15 in the decider.

“You’ve got to come in thinking you can win it,” said Kokkinakis of his prospects of becoming the fourth local to win the boys singles at Melbourne Park in the space of seven years.

“My form has been good.

“I didn’t know many of the juniors because I haven’t played many for the last few years.

“The Australian Open is the only event I’ve been playing in the juniors since I was 14.

“I probably know more seniors than juniors.”

Kokkinakis grew up idolising Russian Marat Safin – “just because he was entertaining”.

He has recently added Lleyton Hewitt to his list of idols after benefiting from some brutal practice sessions with the former world No.1.

Kokkinakis’s next opponent in the Open boys singles is second-seeded Italian Gianluigi Quinzi.

Kyrgios is on the opposite side of the draw to Kokkinakis, raising the enticing prospect of a singles final between the regular doubles partners, if they can each win their next two matches.

Kyrgios also needed less than an hour to end the singles campaign of Jasika, the only other Australian left in the boys or girls singles competitions.

He will play No.7 seed Wayne Montgomery of South Africa on Thursday for a berth in the semis.