Kyrgios and Kokkinakis begin Japan Open doubles campaign with dominant victory over local favorites

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios made the most of an unexpected appearance in the Ariake Colosseum with a dominant doubles victory on Wednesday night at the Rakuten Japan Open in Tokyo.

Originally scheduled for Tokyo's second stadium, the Aussies' matchup against Japanese wild cards Yoshihito Nishioka and Kaichi Uchida was moved to the roofed centre stage after persistent rain. The top seeds thrived under the spotlight and did not face a break point as they cruised through with a 6-1 6-2 victory.

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The reigning Australian Open and Atlanta champions are seeking their third title of the season as they step up their bid to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. The pair is currently seventh in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings, with a place in the top eight needed to guarantee a spot in Turin.

"Hopefully we can continue our doubles form," said Kyrgios after the duo's 47-minute win. "We've had a great year. We won the Australian Open. I see a lot of Australian fans and people that want us to do well, so we'll continue to do well for you guys and have some fun."

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Dubbed "The Special K's" by fans, the Aussie duo will next take on the unseeded Spanish team of Bernabe Zapata Miralles and Pedro Martinez.