Kyrgios confident after first round win in Stuttgart - "There was a bit of adversity but I'm feeling good moving forward"

Despite playing in the wrong shoes during his doubles match at the Weissenhof Stuttgart tournament, Nick Kyrgios was able to find his rhythm...and correct shoes, to win his opening round singles match.

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After his bags went missing in transit en route from Australia to the ATP 250 event in south-west Germany, Kyrgios wore a pair of clay-court shoes in his first-round doubles win alongside Alexander Bublik. Luckily for the six-time tour-level titlist, he was reunited with his bags just in time for his maiden ATP Tour meeting with Jiri Lehecka.

"Everything came last night,” explained Kyrgios after his 7-6(3) 6-3 victory against the #NextGenATP Czech. “Today was the first time I wore grass-court shoes. I played my doubles in clay-court shoes yesterday… and still won!”

The World No.78 was firing on all cylinders, hitting 18 aces behind his booming serve.

“That’s what I have to do to win matches, serve big and play on my instinct,” said Kyrgios. “I’ve been hitting tennis balls in Australia on grass, so I’ve had some preparation. Obviously, nothing like a match, but I never really need matches under my belt to go out there and perform.

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“I knew it was going to be tough. I didn’t have the best preparation here. My tennis bag didn’t come until yesterday, I didn’t have grass-court shoes, I had my clay-court shoes. There was a bit of adversity, but I’m feeling good moving forward.”