Kyrgios wins clay court opener in Houston

Nick Kyrgios has set up a quarter-final with big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic at the US Claycourt Championships in Houston.

Nick Kyrgios. Source: Getty

Nick Kyrgios has made a successful start to his 2018 claycourt season with victory in his opening match of the ATP event in Houston.

After enjoying a first-round bye, Australia's fourth seed beat American Bjorn Fratangelo 6-7 (2-7), 6-1, 6-2 on Wednesday at the US Claycourt Championships only his fourth tournament of an injury-riddled season.

It took Kyrgios a full set to get going before shifting it up to another gear to throw down 21 aces as he broke Fratangelo's serve four times in the one hour, 32-minute match. 

Kyrgios will next play Croat veteran Ivo Karlovic in the quarter-finals who advanced after beating qualifier Denis Kudla 7-5, 7-5.

In other matches, Australian Open surprise Tennys Sandgren defeated Nicols Kicker 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) and Guido Pella moved past Sam Querrey 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3).