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Nick Kyrgios has warmed up for his US Open clash with world number one Daniil Medvedev with a cruisy doubles win alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis.
- Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are into the third round of the US Open doubles
- The US Open men's doubles are best of three sets, while it is best of five at Wimbledon, where Kyrgios withdrew
- Monday's match against Medvedev is Kyrgios's first time in the fourth round in New York
The Australian pair wasted no time in downing Sweden's Andre Goransson and Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).
The first match for the 'Special K' team went into a third set and ticked over two hours, but they only took 84 minutes to win in the second round.
Kyrgios is wary of how much time he spends on court as deep runs become more regular occurrences for him at majors, especially with the added load of doubles.
Since winning the Australian Open title with Kokkinakis, Kyrgios criticised the best-of-five format for doubles at Wimbledon, where he withdrew to focus on his charge to the singles final.
The doubles in New York is best of three sets, making the load more manageable, and Kyrgios also said he was pleased to keep his third-round singles win over American JJ Wolf to under two hours on Saturday (AEST) as he reached the fourth round of the US Open for the first time.
There he will meet Medvedev for the second time in less than a month, after beating the top-ranked Russian at August's Montreal Masters.
Kyrgios said that recent victory and his own form were massive boosts going into the clash with the defending US Open champion.
"I know my game plan and I'm happy if I win or lose playing that way. I'm definitely going to play a certain way against him," he said.
"I think my level's right there [with the best in the world]. There's no shame in losing to a player like that, but I definitely feel like the way I'm playing and the game plan and the success I had against him in Montreal, I definitely feel like I've got a fighting chance.
"Not many players can say that right now. Going in to play Medvedev at the US Open, they're gonna go out there but I don't think deep down they know in their core they're going to win."
Kyrgios has a 3-1 winning record against the 26-year-old, who made the final in New York in 2019 before breaking through for his first grand slam title with a straight-sets win over Novak Djokovic last year.
Kyrgios is coming off his first major decider, at Wimbledon in July, when he lost in four sets to Djokovic, which the Canberran has admitted has spurred him during a long stretch away from home.
Also encouraging Kyrgios is the chance to play the world's best under the brightest lights.
"I want to be there. I want to be on prime time. I want to be on that screen, the screen they're all watching. I embrace it," he said.
"Win or lose, I'm proud of how far I've come. I've worked hard to be in the fourth round at the US Open, against Medvedev. I want to be there.
"I think that's where every tennis player wants to be, playing the best players in the world in the best stadiums in the world, getting paid well. I'm looking forward to it."
Kyrgios and Medvedev will take to centre court to kick off Sunday's night session in New York (9am Monday AEST), with Serena slayer Ajla Tomljanović playing an earlier match against another Russian, Liudmila Samsonova, on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
ABC/AAP