Wednesday 6 January 2016 17:30, UK
Nick Kyrgios beat Andy Murray for the first time in his career on Wednesday, putting Australia 1-0 up against Great Britain in their Hopman Cup clash.
Kyrgios used his big serve to good effect as he recorded his first win in five matches against world No 2 Murray, showing the rewards of an intensive training camp ahead of the new season to clinch a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) victory.
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 on 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 in his previous four meetings against Murray, including three Grand Slam defeats last year.
"I've improved a lot. I've put in a lot of work in the off season," Kyrgios told broadcasters, in front of 12,000 crowd at the Perth Arena. "It's my favourite time of year by far.
Heather Watson levelled the tie with a brave comeback victory against newly naturalised Australian Daria Gavrilova in the women's singles.
The Brits then appeared down and out when Gavrilova served for the match, and the tie, at 5-3 in the third set against Watson. But 23-year-old Watson produced a stunning finish to take the last four games and square the tie with her 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 7-5.
The Aussie Greens secured the tie when they won a thrilling mixed doubles encounter in a tense match tie-break, 6-2, 6-7 (0/7), 11-9.
Unbeaten in their first two group matches, the pairing of Kyrgios and Gavrilova only need to beat France, who are out of contention after losing both their ties, on Friday to advance to Saturday's final.
