- Australian reaches third round with 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory
- Umpire asks crowd to refrain from smoking during second set
Hot heads, pot heads and the chugging of beer. It appeals as the type of vibrant New York scene that Nick Kyrgios would usually thrive in on court. But put a racket in his hand and things become unpredictable, as proved the case again for the Australian at the US Open on Wednesday before he found his groove late in the party.
For an extended period during his 7-6, (7-3) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi on Louis Armstrong Stadium, the Wimbledon finalist struggled for his best form. This was more due to the tenacity and resilience of his poker-faced rival, who held his emotions in check as the Australian’s temper frayed.