Washington DC, United States, 1 August 2019 | AAP / tennis.com.au

Nick Kyrgios marched into the third round of the Citi Open in Washington DC after a commanding 6-4 7-5 victory over Frenchman Gilles Simon.

The 24-year-old blasted 24 aces against Simon, the tournament’s 11th seed, during the 91-minute contest in what was the first meeting between the pair.

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In the match that followed Kyrgios v Simon onto court, fellow Australian Jordan Thompson recovered from a break down in the third set to beat No.14 seed Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7(8) 6-4 7-5.

Kyrgios broke serve in the fifth game of the first set en route to winning it, and saved two set points trailing 15-40 to eventually hold for 5-5 in the second set. He won the match when Simon dumped a forehand into the net during the tiebreak.

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“He’s an amazing competitor, been around a long long time, knows how to win tennis matches. I knew I had to serve well, be aggressive … I’m just happy to get through,” Kyrgios said.

The world No.52 is projected to rise to 46th in next week’s ranking and will face Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka — who beat Belgium’s David Goffin in a third-set tiebreak — for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Thompson, meanwhile, trailed 2-0 in the final set before winning seven of the next 10 games to seal victory.

It is the ninth time in 2019 that the Sydneysider has come back to win a match after dropping the first set

Kyrgios and Thompson — who next plays No.1 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas — are the last two Australian men left in the tournament.

Jordan Thompson in action at the Citi Open in Washington DC (photo: Peter Staples/ATP Tour)

Earlier on Wednesday (local time), compatriot Alex de Minaur suffered an upset 6-3 7-6(6) loss to German world No.122 Peter Gojowczyk.

The loss comes after the 20-year-old De Minaur, ranked 25th, won the Atlanta Open on Monday.

De Minaur reached the final in Washington DC last year, and as a result his ranking is expected to drop to No.37.

Gojowczyk will face 2014 champion Milos Raonic, who booked a spot in the third round after beating American Tim Smyczek 6-1 6-4, a first-round victor over Australia’s Matt Ebden.

Australian qualifier Marc Polmans pushed French 10th seed Benoit Paire to the brink before falling 6-2 5-7(5) 7-5(5).

The world no.172 saved 11 break points in the two-and-a half hour slugfest, but Paire, who fired 26 aces, proved too strong.

In the third round Paire will face American John Isner, who defeated Pole Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 6-4.

World No.6 Tsitsipas got through by beating American Tommy Paul 6-3 7-5 to set up his clash in the last 16 with Thompson.