Nick Kyrgios has marched into the third round of the Washington Open after a commanding 6-4 7-5 victory over Frenchman Gilles Simon.
Kyrgios blasted 24 aces against Simon, the tournament’s 11th seed, during the 91-minute contest in which the Australian smashed a racquet and had a blow-up with the umpire.
The 24-year-old world no.52 will face the winner of Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka and Belgium’s David Goffin for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Compatriot Alex de Minaur suffered an upset 6-3 7-6 (8-6) loss to German world no.122 Peter Gojowczyk.
The loss marks a bitter change in fortune for 20-year-old de Minaur, who won the Atlanta Open on Monday.
Gojowczyk will face the 2014 Washington Open champion, Milos Raonic, who booked a spot in the third round after he defeated American Tim Smyczek 6-1 6-4.
Australian journeyman Marc Polmans pushed French former world no.18 Benoit Paire to three sets before falling 6-2 5-7 (7-5) 7-5 (7-5).
The world no.172 saved 11 break points in the two-and-a half hour slugfest, but Paire, who fired 26 aces, proved too strong.
Paire will face American John Isner, who defeated Pole Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 6-4, in the third round.
Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson, who is set to play German Jan-Lennard Struff on Thursday, are the last two Australian men left in the tournament.