Shotmaking: Andy Murray d. Nick Kyrgios

In our Shotmaking series, Anita Aguilar will provide the photos and Steve Tignor will provide the captions. Together, they'll tell the story of a match at the U.S. Open.

Kyrgios had lost all eight sets he'd played against Murray, but he leapt out to an early lead in the first one on Tuesday.

Does anyone else hit the ball as straight up-and-down as Kyrgios does?

And few flick an inside-in forehand with as much effortless sidespin whip.

“It’s important when you play him to concentrate on your side of the court,” Murray said of facing Kyrgios. But the Scot always has a winning plan against the Aussie. On Tuesday night he worked Kyrgios’s weaker backhand and used his own backhand slice to change the pace.

Murray took a few games to find his timing, but by early in the second set he had all of his variations well orchestrated. “I felt like when he had his dips, I felt like I capitalized on them today,” the world No. 3 said.

One of Kyrgios’s dips came early, when he let himself get distracted by a group of fans who walked in during the middle of his service game. Kyrgios was still muttering about it two games later.

And then, a little later, he was hitting a tweener, following it with a rocket forehand winner, and doing...whatever this is.

Kyrgios doesn’t just wear chains around his neck, he has them for a snack during some points.

Kyrgios started out sleeved, before going sleeveless later. But his backhand let him down at some crucial junctures.

Murray showed that he can sling his own forehand when the moment calls for it.

After stick-saving a rocket return from Kyrgios, Murray ran forward and laid a perfect re-drop on him for a game-endign winner. All the Aussie could do was laugh in appreciation.

“I expected a very tough match,” Murray said after his 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 win, “and that’s what I got.”

Kyrgios took a swing at a ball and came back empty-handed. “I mean, when he let go of the racquet today after the forehand,” Murray said with a laugh, “I mean, that only happens to him.”

Murray said it’s hot under the roof lights in Ashe now, and there was no hiding his sweat.

Kyrgios in full, triple-jump flight.

And in full, racquet-slamming rage.

After the official handshake at the net, Kyrgios got in a last slap with Murray on his way out of the US Open. “He’s always had nice things to say about me,” Kyrgios said of Murray.

Will we, perhaps against our better judgement, miss Naughty Nick over the next two weeks? Murray moves on to play Adrian Mannarino in the second round.