Tokyo, Japan, 4 October 2016 | Reuters/tennis.com.au

Australian Nick Kyrgios has won his opening-round match at the Japan Open, beating American Ryan Harrison in straight sets in Tokyo.

The sixth seed recorded a comfortable 7-5 6-2 victory to set up a clash with Czech Radek Stepanek in the last 16.

The veteran Stepanek earlier on Tuesday beat Frenchman Stephane Robert 6-2 6-1.

Kyrgios’s compatriot James Duckworth also advanced to the second round when opponent Feliciano Lopez retired down 4-2 in the third set.

The eighth-seeded Spaniard held a match point in the 10th game of the second set, which Duckworth – who was serving – saved.

The Australian went on to control the second-set tiebreak and lead in the third before Lopez called it quits, citing illness.

In other first-round action, Juan Monaco – whom Duckworth next faces – defeated Taylor Fritz of the United States 7-6(2) 7-6(5), while another Czech, Jiri Vesely, downed Kevin Anderson of South Africa 3-6 6-0 6-4.

No.5 seed David Goffin of Belgium accounted for local player Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5 6-2.