Kyrgios, so irritated by cameramen and ballkids and much else that punctuated his first-round singles win over Andreas Haider-Maurer on Monday, was jaunty and relaxed; Tomic, who has had his own dramas in recent months, was similarly chilled in the lower-stakes, lower-key setting.

When a Kyrgios winner converted the pair's initial set point in the tiebreak, his older partner was mock-reverential. After ripping a forehand return winner for 15-40 at 5-5 in the second set, Tomic turned to see his mate frozen in rigid disbelief/awe. One suspects, though, that Sock and Pospisil, both with top 20 doubles rankings, might have been slightly less impressed.

"They've just come from winning (in Beijing), so it's tough for them," said Tomic. "They have to come here, they have two days (to prepare) and we're serving good, so it's tough for them. It's not really doubles, it's just serve."

"Me and Bernard played pretty well at the US Open a couple of years ago," added Kyrgios, the young pair having lost the 2014 opening round in New York in three close sets. "Moving forward in Davis Cup I think it's an option. Obviously (Tomic) returns well and he knows how to serve. That's doubles these days: just serve and return."

And, in this case, apparently, swing, enjoy, win. So who is the better doubles player? Tomic, unhesitatingly: "Nick". Kyrgios: "Um... I'd say Bernard." Tomic: "We're never gonna (agree on) this, so next question."