The sign at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club reads “dress code applies”, but on Tuesday the rules were relaxed. Thousands from all walks of life streamed into the leafy grounds in Melbourne’s inner east to enjoy the first day of the Kooyong Classic, where Nick Kyrgios brought his own brand of tennis to the storied Australian Open warmup event.

The 30-year-old announced on Friday he would not be playing singles at Melbourne Park, but he had already committed to Kooyong as he works his way back into shape. So under cloudy skies in Melbourne’s mid-afternoon, he found himself across the net from Chinese former world No 31 Zhang Zhizhen, now ranked 362, and returning from injury himself.

Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club was the home of the Australian Open between 1972 and 1987 and is – outside Wimbledon – a bastion of tennis’s grasscourt traditions. Learner Tien, the 20-year-old American who has quickly climbed the rankings, admitted after his earlier match he had never seen as many grass courts in one place, outside SW19.

Grass is not the only tradition Kooyong upholds. As one of the institutions of Melbourne’s establishment, this is a place steeped in standards, sportsmanship and respect. So when, before the match, one of dozens of preteen boys in attendance screamed at Kyrgios, “can I have your racket?” it appeared this was no ordinary Tuesday down at the club.

Beneath the summer dresses and linen pastels of a fashion-conscious crowd, Kyrgios entered the arena, with eyes fixed on what he was – and wasn’t – wearing. In a doubles defeat last week in Brisbane he had strapping on his elbow and knee, an indication his recovery was still a work in progress. But in Melbourne these were gone.

And rather than the grimace of Brisbane, the Australian wore a smile. It helped the match appeared to be going his way. Winning 90% of points on first serve secured him a first set. Shortly after, he produced a tweener to the delight of the squealing youngsters. In losing the point, Kyrgios even kept the traditionalists happy.

While the Australian Open pursues a futuristic vision for tennis, mixed with entertainment, music and technology, Kooyong – just 8km to the east – is a throwback. The main arena was refurbished in 2019 to create a boutique, 6,000-person capacity stadium harking back to the site’s traditional aesthetic.

Pat Cash is an official ambassador for the tournament and its first winner, but has a long connection to the place. “I had my first tennis lesson here,” he said. “I’m back here still 50 years later, still at the club.” He said he had seen it change over the years, including a shift from grass to hardcourt in the main arena, “which is a bit sad”. But he otherwise beamed when talking about the outlook from the balcony, saying it was “one of the most spectacular views you can have in tennis”.

To underscore the history of the place, 98-year-old Frank Sedgman – a five-time grand slam winner, the last in 1952 – tossed the coin at the start of the day. By the time Kyrgios began to turn up the showmanship in the second set, Sedgman was nowhere to be seen. Kyrgios broke back at 3-5, running to his seat and leaning back, slowly crossing his legs in mocking ease. The crowd enjoyed the stagecraft so much, the Australian crossed them again.

But he was not yet comfortable, and lost the set the following game. It set up a grandstand finish for the rowdy crowd in the deciding match tiebreak. As the score nudged its way to 6-7, the preteens in attendance roared their delight.

Kyrgios ultimately prevailed 6-3 4-6 11-9, dropping to the ground in triumph heavy on the theatrics amid generous applause, even if few will remember the result. Perhaps more enduring was what followed. A basketball hoop was wheeled out on to the historic home of Australian tennis and Kyrgios, Zhang – one of the game’s key attractions in its expanding market in China – and a fan traded shots in a stage-managed game of horse.

Over the shrieks of young fans, Kyrgios said afterwards the promise that was evident in his performance gave him mixed feelings: “In one sense it’s amazing, in the other sense it is a bit heartbreaking, because you know that I’m not really able to go out there and do what I used to do.”

He will now take part in Wednesday’s One Point Slam at Melbourne Park, and plans to play men’s doubles and potentially mixed doubles at the Australian Open. Looking ahead, Kyrgios has no plans to play Roland Garros, but Wimbledon – where he reached the men’s singles final in 2022 – was “a bit easier physically” and will be a target for his coming months of training. “If I didn’t have this, like, I don’t know what else I’d do. Like, really, let’s be honest,” he said.

“I’ve got a lot of things going off court, but there’s no feeling like this, with the kids and the youth. I’m just trying to be a good role model and show that someone like me is able to still have fun, no matter what you look like or where you come from.”