NEW YORK: Nick Kyrgios will face the bright lights of New York City at prime time on Tuesday night, handed centre court honours for his first round showdown against Andy Murray at the US Open.
Now the 20-year-old faces the possibility of a hostile reception at Arthur Ashe Stadium when he takes the court in front of 22,000 fans on Tuesday night (Wednesday 9am AEST).
US Open officials had to decide between the Kyrgios-Murray showdown or Roger Federer's match against Leonardo Mayer for the prime time slot on Tuesday night.
Usually Federer, who is the tournament's No.2 seed, would have been given priority ahead of the No.3 seed Murray, but it's understood the polarising Kyrgios was a factor in the decision.
Federer will still play on centre court but will feature as the last match of the day session before Kyrgios and Murray fight it out for the third time in a grand slam this year.
While it's unclear what sort of reception the enigmatic Kyrgios will receive, Americans love an entertainer and they are assured to get that when the Australian, who has lost all three of his past clashes with Murray, takes the court.
The match will be aired live around the United States in prime time and in countries around the world as it's the only night match on at the time.
Australia didn't have the best start to the US Open on Monday, with Casey Dellacqua going down in straight sets to Estonian qualifier Annett Kontaveit 7-5, 6-2 in just over an hour.
Matthew Ebden was unable to challenge No.17 seed Grigor Dimitrov, bowing out 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, while John Millman lost in four sets to Ukranian Sergiy Stakhovsky (6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4).
Lleyton Hewitt will begin his final US Open campaign against Aleksandr Nedovyesov on Tuesday (Wednesday morning Australian time).
Other Aussies in action on day two will be Thanasi Kokkinakis, Bernard Tomic, Samantha Stosur, John-Patrick Smith, Jarmila Gajdosova, Ajla Tomljanovic and James Duckworth.
