PERTH — Andy Murray's preparations for this month's Australian Open suffered a setback Wednesday when the world No. 2 went down in straight sets to local favorite Nick Kyrgios at the Hopman Cup here.
Murray, who led Britain to their first Davis Cup triumph in 79 years just over a month ago, stormed past France's Kenny de Schepper in his opening match of the mixed teams event Monday but did not seem to be at his 100 per cent against Kyrgios.
The 20-year-old Australian, ranked 30th in the world, had never won his previous four meetings against Murray, including three losses in grand slams last year.
But he salvaged some pride with a 6-4, 7-6(5) win on Wednesday to give his team, Australia Green, a 1-0 lead against opponents Britain.
"I did promise a few of my friends that next time I played Murray I would beat him, and there you go," Kyrgios said at a court-side interview after his win.
"I've improved a lot. I've put a lot of hard work in over the off-season and it has paid off."
Serena withdraws
World No. 1 Serena Williams pulled out of the mixed teams Hopman Cup event due to a knee injury Wednesday, less than two weeks before the start of the Australian Open.
After pulling out of Monday's tie against Ukraine with inflammation in her knee, the 34-year-old American hobbled through her match against Australian Jarmila Wolfe the following day before deciding she could not go on.
She had refused to rule out returning to the court for the United States' match against Czech Republic but officially put an end to that Wednesday. Williams will hope that the injury will not scupper her plans for the Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne on Jan. 18.
Nishikori, Azarenka advance
Japan's Kei Nishikori and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus continued their Australian Open preparations by swiftly marching through to the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International Wednesday.
Nishikori cruised past Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-4 on Pat Rafter Arena before twice Australian Open champion Azarenka dispatched Belgian lucky loser Ysaline Bonaventure 6-3, 6-2.
Azarenka battled with her serve early in the first set against the young Belgian, who played valiantly after stepping in for world No. 2 Simona Halep, who pulled out with an Achilles problem.
Azarenka will next play US Open finalist Roberta Vinci of Italy for a place in the semifinals.
Nishikori awaits the winner of the encounter between home hope Bernard Tomic or Czech Radek Stepanek.
Broady prevails
A fired up Naomi Broady let her racket do the talking as she stormed back to beat Jelena Ostapenko in an ill-tempered Auckland Classic clash marred by an on-court row after the Briton called for the Latvian to be disqualified.
Tensions boiled over in the second set of the low key second round clash when, after a winner by Broady, the 18-year-old Ostapenko's racket came out of her hand, bounced off the blue hard court and against the back wall toward the ball boy.
"She threw the racket and hit the ball boy, no way was that accidental," the 25-year-old Broady complained to the umpire.
Play was delayed as the umpire and ball boy had a conversation. The umpire opted for a code violation over a disqualification after the Latvian wildcard argued the racket slipped from her hand but a clearly upset Broady called for another official to adjudicate.
The British qualifier however stormed back to prevail 4-6 7-6(4) 7-5, helped by 21 aces, and book a spot in the quarterfinals where she will face American fifth seed Sloane Stephens.
