Nick Kyrgios will play 21st seed Ugo Humbert in his first match outside Australia since early 2020 after landing in the softest quarter of next week's Wimbledon draw.
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The 26-year-old Canberran, who flew to London on Wednesday, could face world number 6 Alexander Zverev in the fourth round while a semi-final against Roger Federer or second seed Daniil Medvedev potentially awaits should he recapture his best form.
But that all hinges on getting past Humbert, who will still have his epic five-set loss to Kyrgios in the second round of this year's Australian Open fresh on his mind.
"Sheeeshhhh, Ugo not again mannnnnnn," Kyrgios tweeted after the Wimbledon draw was announced.
That Australian Open match was the second time Kyrgios had played the Frenchman. Kyrgios retired after one set when the pair clashed in Mexico last February, his most recent match outside Australia.
The winner of Kyrgios and Humbert will take on an unseeded opponent in the second round, either Argentinian Juan Ignacio Londero or Italian Gianluca Mager.
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Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur admits his 15th seeding hasn't offered much protection, with a potentially treacherous opener against one of the game's rising stars in 20-year-old American Sebastian Korda.
"Obviously, Sebby's playing some unbelievable tennis, one of the guys of the future, and he's been playing great on grass," de Minaur told AAP.
De Minaur made it into his first grass-court final at the Eastbourne International on Friday.
Australian No.2 John Millman faces Spain's eighth seed Roberto Bautista Agut, who was a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2019 and who took a set off World No 1 Novak Djokovic in that match.
Queenslander Millman is hopeful for an uplift in fortunes after he was forced to withdraw from his opening round French Open assignment with injury.
Alexei Popyrin faces Japanese star Kei Nishikori, Jordan Thompson plays Norwegian 12th seed Casper Ruud, while qualifier Chris O'Connell takes on 13th seed Gael Monfils.
With AAP
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
