Bernard Tomic won the battle of Australia's tennis bad boys with a comical trick serve through his legs at the Kooyong Classic Wednesday, as he and opponent Nick Kyrgios both talked up their chances at the Australian Open. The world number 83's good-natured 6-3, 6-4 victory over his longtime friend Kyrgios ended with a flourish when he sent down the sneaky serve, while bouncing another ball, on match point. It caught the relaxed Kyrgios completely off guard, and left him laughing and shaking his head.

The collegial battle between the two showmen, who have both struggled with motivational difficulties, was a crowd pleaser and they were happy afterwards to talk up their chances at the opening Grand Slam of the year next week.

"We've both made deep runs at the Open," said Kyrgios, pointing to his 2015 quarter-final and Tomic's three fourth rounds.

"It's looking good for Australia, we have a lot of players, all playing with different style, but looking strong."

As for his own chances at his home Slam, Kyrgios had limited advice.

"I guess it's not doing what I've been doing," said a player who quit the 2018 season in October with an elbow injury and then played basketball and worked with his charity in the off-season.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019