Nick Kyrgios has overcome first-night nerves to maintain his perfect record in the first round of the Australian Open.
Australia's top hope of ending a 40-year wait for a home-grown winner at Melbourne Park eased into the second round with a 6-1 6-2 6-4 win over Brazilian opponent Rogerio Dutra Silva.
Kyrgios blew the world No.100 away with 16 aces, peaking at 217 kilometres an hour, but admitted anxiety as he took to Hisense Arena.
"I went out there pretty nervous," he said.
"I know I'm hitting the ball well. But to go out there in front of the crowd again, just trying to play well, I was a bit nervous.
"I loosened up a little bit in the third set ... still managed to get it done."
Kyrgios played without strapping on his troubled knee and, crucially for his injury issues, got off court in just 95 minutes.
Kyrgios' four matches on the way to the Brisbane International title means he's played more competitive tennis than most of his Open rivals.
Having backed off his training since arriving at Melbourne Park, the quick dismissal of Dutra Silva allows his trainers to maintain control of his workload in the early stages of the fortnight-long event.
