New York, USA, 1 September 2022 | Leigh Rogers

Nick Kyrgios has survived a spirited test from Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi in the US Open second round.

The No.23-seeded Australian carved out a 7-6(3) 6-4 4-6 6-4 victory in a tense battle today at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York.

“I was literally hanging by a thread, his level today was incredible,” admitted Kyrgios. “Honestly, I was not expecting an absolute war.”

Kyrgios’ experience proved telling against world No.50 Bonzi, who was hoping to advance to the third round at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.

The 27-year-old Australian lifted under pressure in a tight opening set, striking four winners to secure a tiebreak.

There was only a single break in the second set, with Kyrgios stepping up in the 10th game. With Bonzi serving at 40-15, the Wimbledon 2022 finalist reeled off four consecutive points to win the game and take a two-sets-to-love lead.

The 26-year-old Frenchman fought back to take the third set, breaking Kyrgios in the ninth game and then dutifully holding serve.

An increasingly frustrated Kyrgios looked in trouble when he lost serve early in the fourth set, but immediately broke back to regain some much-needed momentum.

After bravely saving five break points across the seventh and ninth games, a clutch Kyrgios secured victory by winning the final nine points of the match.

Mood.@NickKyrgios | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/g2KUybNDBL

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2022

“I was almost gearing myself up for a fifth set,” Kyrgios admitted.

“I’m just very fortunate that we’re moving forward, because he played good enough to beat me today.”

Kyrgios, who has won won 24 of his past 29 matches, finished with 30 aces and 64 winners in total.

“It was one of those matches where you kind of survive,” Kyrgios said.

“I am relatively happy with my form. It’s not like I played bad or anything. I probably didn’t return as well as I would have liked. It’s so stressful now because every match I play, I’m kind of expecting to play so good. Such a clean performance is kind of not realistic in a sport like this where you’re playing day in, day out, travelling.”

This equals world No.25 Kyrgios’ career-best US Open result, having also previously reached the third round in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

To advance to the fourth round for a first time, Kyrgios will need to beat world No.87 J.J. Wolf. The 23-year-old American wildcard is enjoying a career-best run and beat No.16-seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the opening round.

“I’m expecting an incredibly hard match. I know it’s not going to be easy at all,” Kyrgios said.

Earlier today, Alex de Minaur fought past Chile’s Cristian Garin in four sets to secure his place in the third round.

> READ: Alex exorcises demon in US Open victory over Garin

While Jason Kubler won a rain-delayed first-round match against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer to become the sixth Australian man to progress to the second round. This is the most to reach this stage in 25 years.

https://twitter.com/TennisAustralia/status/1565097162282639361?s=20&t=D2jhNN_nfTFOtWUW_I5dOw

Aussies in action – US Open

TODAY’S RESULTS
Men’s singles, first round
Jason Kubler (AUS) d Mikael Ymer (SWE) 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-4

Men’s singles, second round
[18] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d Cristian Garin (CHI) 6-3 6-0 4-6 6-2
[23] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) d Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) 7-6(3) 6-4 4-6 6-4
[Q] Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) d Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-3 2-6 3-6 6-4 6-3

Women’s singles, second round
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) d Evgeniya Rodina 1-6 6-2 7-5

> READ: Aussies enjoy winning starts in US Open doubles

COMING UP
Men’s singles, second round
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [14] Diego Schwartzman (ARG)
James Duckworth (AUS) v [20] Dan Evans (GBR)
Jason Kubler (AUS) v [22] Frances Tiafoe (USA)

Men’s singles, third round
[18] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [12] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
[23] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) v [WC] J.J. Wolf (USA)

> VIEW: US Open 2022 men’s singles draw

Women’s singles, third round
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v Serena Williams (USA)

> VIEW: US Open 2022 women’s singles draw

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