Andy Murray is expecting the usual fireworks from Nick Kyrgios on Tuesday after the grand slam's governing body conceded tough sanctions against Australia's tennis firebrand won't be imposed at the US Open.
While Kyrgios faces a 28-day suspension and a $US25,000 ($A34,900) fine if he steps out of line at an an ATP event in the next six months, the International Tennis Federation on Saturday said the controversial youngster wouldn't be under any such restrictions at Flushing Meadows.
The ITF's concession means that, unlike at regular tour tournaments, Kyrgios won't be banished if fined for any verbal or physical tirades unleashed at the season's final major.
Kyrgios himself on Saturday admitted he needed to tone down his aggression, but Murray said he wasn't convinced that would make the two-time grand slam quarter-finalist a less dangerous opponent in their marquee first-round match-up.
"I don't know how he's prepared to handle it. I have no clue. He and his people will find the best way to make it," Murray said.
"If he gets a warning here or breaks his racquet, I don't know if that should be a suspension.
"To be honest, I believe he likes playing on big stages. I would expect him to be ready for the match. He gets fired up for big matches."
Despite having removed Kyrgios from the Australian and French Open draws this year in straight sets, Murray remains wary of the 20-year-old's explosive firepower.
"I don't pay attention to the other stuff," said the third-seeded 2012 US Open champion.
"For me it's a tennis match. I go about the match in the best way possible, getting on with things."
"Every match is a new match. He might come in with something different against me. I have to prepare for that. He's quite an unpredictable player."
Unlike the other members of tennis's Big Four, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Murray has some sympathy for Kyrgios, who has been lashed by his peers as well as officialdom since making his crude slur against Stan Wawrinka and the Swiss's girlfriend, Croatian teenager Donna Vekic, at this month's Montreal Masters.
"I'm not necessarily about coming out in favour, (but) he's a young guy," Murray said.
"He made a mistake. All the guys here when they were 19 or 20 made mistakes. His was seen by millions. It's unfortunate it happened. It was wrong.
"Everybody matures at a different rate. It's a process. I don't think he's a bad guy, a bad person, at all.
"He's an unbelievably talented guy with a lot of potential. Just a little bit of patience is important when it comes to Nick. It's not easy growing up in the spotlight."
Tennis fans will have to wait until day two of the Open to see if Kyrgios can cast aside the controversy and upset Murray.
But five other Australians are in action on the opening day, including Daria Gavrilova against Russian third seed Maria Sharapova in one of the feature women's matches.
Casey Dellacqua plays Estonian qualifier Anett Kontaveit, Sam Groth faces Alexandr Dolgopolov, Matt Ebden meets 17th seed Grigor Dimitrov and John Millman is up against Sergiy Stakhovsky in his US Open main-draw debut.
Like Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic, Lleyton Hewitt, Thanasi Kokkinakis, James Duckworth, John-Patrick Smith, Samantha Stosur, Jarmila Gajdosova and Ajla Tomljanovic all have Tuesday starts.
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