Rising teenage star Nick Kyrgios has given Australia a winning start to their Davis Cup World Group play-off against Uzbekistan with a straight-sets win over Denis Istomin at Cottesloe Tennis Club in Perth.
19-year-old Kyrgios proved too good for his more experienced opponent in the opening singles rubber, winning 6-4 7-5 6-4 in just over two hours.
It only took Kyrgios three games into the opening set to break the serve of his 28-year-old opponent for the first time and then he survived two break points in the eighth game before winning the set in 41 minutes.
Istomin started the second set taking the first two games, but Kyrgios broke back to love and then after the two traded one more break of serve apiece, the Australian won the last two games.
The 53rd-ranked Kyrgios then cruised through the third set with Istomin struggling physically and mentally.
Istomin did receive treatment on a hip complaint several times during the match.
Lleyton Hewitt is now next up against Uzbekistan’s world No. 133 Farrukh Dustov in the second singles rubber on the opening day.