Nick Kyrgios returns with win – and a ‘tweener’ – in Stuttgart

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios made a winning return to action in Stuttgart, and threw in a trademark ‘tweener’ for good measure.

The world No.24 beat Germany’s Maximilian Marterer 6-4 4-6 6-3 to set up a quarterfinal against Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

Kyrgios had not played singles for two months as he struggled with an elbow injury, but 20 aces against Marterer suggested that problem is now behind him.

Such was his confidence, the fourth seed produced a spectacular ‘tweener’ down the line, somehow making a winner through his legs while facing the net.

“Great to be back out there again! Oh yeah, got to make up for lost tweeners,” Kyrgios later posted on Twitter.

Never. Gets. Old.@NickKyrgios ????#MercedesCup pic.twitter.com/GZAEGhLxEM

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 14, 2018

The 23-year-old was playing only his 16th singles match of an injury-interrupted year, and could come up against Roger Federer in the Stuttgart semifinals if he manages to progress.

Federer takes on Argentina’s Guido Pella in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Grass-court specialist Lopez is likely to provide a stern test for Kyrgios in the next round following a 7-6(6) 6-4 win over France’s Gilles Simon.

“This is very important for me, to have weeks on grass,” said Lopez, who has a 2-1 record against Kyrgios.

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“It’s a very unique surface. You play only two, three weeks a year. It’s so important to get matches, to get hours on the grass and you get more when you win.”

Tomas Berdych snapped a five-match losing run with a 7-6(3) 6-4 win over Frenchman Benoit Paire, and the Czech third seed next faces former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic.

The Canadian seventh seed raced past Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 6-2 6-4.