Nick Kyrgios has defeated Andreas Seppi in straight-sets to book his place in a potential last 16 clash with Rafael Nadal at ATP Tour event in Acapulco.
Australia’s world No.72 served 13 aced and needed an hour and 13 minute to dispatch Italian veteran Seppi 6-3 7-5.
Kyrgios trails Nadal 3-2 in their previous meetings, although the Spaniard must get past German Mischa Zverev to set up a blockbuster second-round showdown.
Sydney teenager Alexei Popyrin found the step up in class a bit too much in his opening-round loss to Alexander Zverev.
The German second seed did not face a break point in a routine 6-6 6-3 win over Popyrin, who was thrust into the main draw when Bernard Tomic withdrew from their second-round qualifying encounter.
Kyrgios was the second Australian to advance past round one in the Mexican seaport city after eighth-seeded John Millman’s win on Monday while fifth-seed Alex De Minaur will commence his campaign later on Tuesday against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry.
In the WTA event, Dario Gavrilova’s winless run in 2019 continued after she was a first-round casualty to Mihaela Buzarnescu.
The Australian lost 6-4 6-2 to the Romanian fourth seed and will slide outside the world’s top 50 when the next rankings are released on Monday – she reached a career-high 20th in August 2017.