Posted May 30, 2017 22:08:39

Photo: Nick Kyrgios fired off dozens of aces. (Reuters: Gonzalo Fuente)

Nick Kyrgios shrugged off injury concerns and kept his emotions in check to outclass Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 and claim his spot in the second round of the French Open.

The 18th seed, fired a total of 20 aces, including six in the first set alone, which he raced though in 30 minutes on Tuesday.

A mini-break in the tie break was enough to hand him the second set as Kohlschreiber struggled with the Australian's whipped groundstrokes and repeated audacious dropshots.

Kyrgios, notorious for his periodic bad temper and sulks on court, sealed his victory on his first match point.

Juan Martin del Potro meanwhile made a successful return to the Open after a five-year absence, beating fellow Argentine Guido Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.

The 29th seed, whose career has been plagued by injury, only confirmed his participation in this year's French Open on Friday after suffering shoulder and back problems.

Del Potro, who reached the French Open semi-finals in 2009, moved across court six with no apparent signs of discomfort, sending down 13 aces in outclassing qualifier Pella in just under two hours.

The match was Del Potro's first on the Paris clay since 2012, when he lost in the quarter-finals to Roger Federer.

Reuters

Topics: sport, tennis, france, australia