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Sydney - Australia's Nick Kyrgios said he was
"bored" during his straight-sets win over Sam Querrey as he extended
his hot run of form at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday.
The outspoken 21-year-old, who lifted the Japan Open trophy
on Sunday, won 6-4, 6-4 in just 53 minutes as he cantered past the American
world No 29 and into round two.
Afterwards Kyrgios, who is at a career-high 12th in the
rankings and eyeing the top 10, suggested he wasn't at his best so soon after
his long week in Tokyo.
"I was just a little bit bored at times," he said,
when asked why he wasn't his usual vocal self on court. "I was feeling
very tired today.
"I didn't have the greatest sleep last night and
obviously got in late the day before, and the ride to the courts isn't great
either.
"It was just tough. I'm just tired today, so maybe I
just wanted to get the job done."
The Shanghai Masters, held at the Qi Zhong Stadium complex
one hour from the city centre, is perhaps not a favourite tournament for
Australia's number one.
Last year he was slapped with a $1 500 fine for an audible
obscenity in a tirade in which he slammed the event as a "circus" and
complained about the ball kids, according to reports.
However, Kyrgios now presents a more focused figure after
teaming with British strength and conditioning expert Martin Skinner in recent
weeks.
"I just trust him. He tells me what to do and I do it.
I think that's one thing I've improved on the most, the off-court stuff,"
Kyrgios said of Skinner.
Tuesday's win was the sixth in the row for Kyrgios, who has
won all three of his ATP titles this year and is in line to become Australia's
first top 10 player since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006.
"It was a solid match. I wasn't feeling 100 percent,
obviously tired from last week and not having so much time here so I'm pretty
pleased to move forward," Kyrgios said.
"It's not easy for anyone. I think to win a tournament and come back and beat a quality opponent like Sam... I'm pretty pleased with the way I backed it up," he added.
