Nick Kyrgios advances to 2nd round at Open de Nice

NICE, France (AP) Sixth-seeded Nick Kyrgios used his strong serve to reach the second round of the Open de Nice with a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over Mikhail Kukushkin on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old Kyrgios, who is among the outsiders at the French Open after making the final at the Estoril Open, lost only two points on his serve in the second set and converted three of his five break chances.

The 30th-ranked Australian will next face Dominic Thiem.

French qualifier Gianni Mina advanced when fifth-seeded Bernard Tomic retired after losing the opening set 6-2, and James Duckworth rallied past lucky loser Frances Tiafoe 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-2.

Tiafoe, a 17-year-old American, has earned a wild card for the French Open, which starts on Sunday.