Nick Kyrgios has started 2018 in the kind of form needed to once again convince the tennis world he truly is the real deal.

The Australian picked up his first ATP title on home soil at the Brisbane International in January, which also reminded everybody why a maiden Grand Slam mightn’t be beyond his reach.

The 22-year-old toppled the likes of Alexandr Dolgopolov and Grigor Dimitrov to secure the fourth trophy of his career, no doubt boosting in confidence going into the Australian Open.

Kyrgios failed to hit top gear during his round one victory over Rogerio Dutra Silva, but that didn’t prevent him from breezing past the Brazilian.

The match ended 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in favour of the World No. 17, setting up an intriguing match against Serbian veteran Viktor Troicki next up.

Always a captivating character, Kyrgios could even afford to occasionally toy with Dutra Silva in front of an expectant home crowd.

However, he perhaps didn’t expect to continue entertaining fans long after wrapping up the three-set victory.

Kyrgios isn’t afraid of speaking his mind during media conferences, not least when journalists ask him to explain his often bizarre behaviour on the court.

But on this occasion, one particular member of the press found himself shut down by the Aussie for an entirely different reason.

Having spoken at length about his performance on Monday evening and what he expects of his upcoming opponent in Troicki, Kyrgios was thrown by a question from an American journalist.

Per the Sydney Morning Herald, he was asked: "You're friends with the American football player Colin Kaepernick, have been supportive of him in the past. Where are your thoughts on him not being re-signed by an American football team?”

Kaepernick – a former San Francisco 49ers quarterback – was the catalyst for protests against police brutality and racial injustice that has swept the NFL.

Unaware of his background and baffled by the abrupt change of subject, Kyrgios responded:

"I don't think I've ever spoken a word to him in my life ... I mean, where is that question even coming from? We're at the Australian Open, man. Are we done?

"What's next, ask me what colour I think the room is?"

KYRGIOS MOVES ON

Clearly feeling he’d already offered the media enough of his time, Kyrgios took the opportunity to end the press conference – albeit on a slightly bizarre note.

Barring another meltdown, this might well be the most awkward moment he has with the media until the end of the tournament.

One would think journalists would by now know better than to direct careless questions at the often spiky character, but if not, they surely will now.