Nick Kyrgios was knocked out of the Valencia Open in the first round on Tuesday after he was beaten by German qualifier Daniel Brands 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/3).
The Australian got off to a quick start in the opening set, breaking Brands in his opening service game, as he raced into a 4-1 lead.
However, a loss of concentration saw him drop his serve twice in succession and he soon found himself 5-4 down. The 170th-ranked Brands capitalized on a series of half-hearted shots from Kyrgios to take the first set.
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Kyrgios leveled the match after Brands twice in a four-game run in the second set, and looked to have the momentum going into the final set.
With both men holding serve throughout the deciding set, it came down to a tiebreak. The German produced the more consistent tennis to secure five match points at 6-2. Kyrgios saved the first with a second serve ace, but was powerless in the next point as Brands served out the match with an ace.
“I think the key today was to stay calm and just to focus on the important points. I think I played some good points today and a really good match,” Brands said.
Brands next faces Spain’s David Ferrer.
Earlier, Aljaz Bedene of Britain won 12 of the last 15 games to beat eighth-seeded Jeremy Chardy of France 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in their first-round match.
The Slovenia-born Briton, who had 14 aces, is next to face Vasek Pospisil of Canada. Bedene won their only previous meeting at last year’s Sony Ericsson Open (now known as the Miami Open).
“He serves big, so I need to be ready for his big serves,” Bedene said. “Not just to put in a return, but to make something of it. He’s a great volleyer, as well, and has a great forehand, so I need to be active all the time and not lose serve as I did so easily in the first set today.”
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