Australian Open 2021: Nick Kyrgios wins epic five-setter to advance to third round

He’s the first to admit he is controversial, but he never plays the victim. After a performance for the ages, Australia’s greatest showman Nick Kyrgios has revealed a sad struggle.

Nick Kyrgios. Picture: Michael Klein

A vulnerable Nick Kyrgios has opened up on the emotional rollercoaster he has been on since he first appeared on the circuit.

Earmarked as the future Aussie superstar from an early age, Kyrgios has been under an intense media spotlight throughout his adult life.

It’s been tough.

He has been crucified for his behaviour, interrogated about his personal life and in the middle of some of the sport’s biggest controversies.

He knows he has brought some of it on himself. He has never played the victim.

But pressure and negativity take their toll and that was clear from his demeanour with the media on Wednesday night after he had produced one of the greatest performances of his career to secure a spot in the third round of the Australian Open.

It’s clear Kyrgios has grown up. His 12 months out of the sport have done him wonders.

Yes there was drama on court, it wouldn’t be a Kyrgios classic without some pantomime.

But his vulnerability was telling. And refreshing. He should be praised for everything he has done this week. Nothing else.

Nick Kyrgios breaks his racquet at the end of the 1st set . Pic: Michael Klein

“I know I caught a lot of flack for everything I do,” he said.

“Sometimes I don’t read it, but, like, it’s not hard to miss when I wake up and go to Instagram and it’s just subconsciously there. My mind is taking it all in, I mean, it’s not easy to just put it behind you.

“I have been dealing with it -- I started dealing with this when I was 17, 18. I was like a child then. Do you know what I mean? I know now I try and block it out.

“I’m more mature and stuff, but it’s still not easy. Like someone loses, another Aussie loses tonight, say, and they will be, like, Oh, great effort winning a first round. He really put his heart out.

“But if I lose tonight, it’s an absolute -- it’s a disaster. I remember one time I played five sets with Seppi and I lost from two sets to love up, and I got booed off the court. I just feel like it’s not so easy.”

FEATURE: ‘With a healthy mind, a top five world ranking awaits Nick’

Kyrgios said the pressure is so intense he goes on court fearing the media back lash before a ball has even been hit.

Who can blame him? Without fail media outlets and pundits jump on him at the slightest hint of controversy. He is scrutinised for things that would never even be mentioned were it another big name.

Kyrgios, maintaining his composure, delivered a powerful insight into what it’s like to be him.

“When I’m match point down second-round exit, I was almost afraid. I was afraid to come into this room, you know, go to my Airbnb and just read about it and take it all in, take all the negativity in that I have already taken. It’s not easy to come back and try and put it all behind.”

Australia's Nick Kyrgios reacts as he plays against France's Ugo Humbert

And it’s not just the media. Earlier this week in the ongoing feud with Novak Djokovic, the world No 1 said he “had no respect for Nick off the court.”

A remarkable swipe and somewhat ludicrous given the work the Aussie does with his foundation and helping those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know that many people don’t think that I have a heart or, you know, compete as hard as they want me to compete from time to time,” he continued.

“But I have been through a lot, and I didn’t just put my hand in a lucky dip and disappear here. I put in a lot of hard work when I was young. I’ve gone through a lot, and nothing’s really been handed to me.

“I’ve won all the matches on my own. I don’t have a coach. I do everything basically on my own, you know, and I always got myself. I always got my back.”

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

John Cain Arena is gonna be rockin’ on Friday night.

Nick Kyrgios booked the third-round Australian Open match-up with Dominic Thiem that almost everyone wanted – except the French – with a 5-7 6-4 3-6 7-6(7-2) 6-4 dispatching of 25th seed Ugo Humbert.

The 25-year-old looked gone several times in the fourth set, especially after falling a break behind, then failing to convert consecutive break-back points in slipping 3-5 behind.

There were two match points to save soon after, too, but Kyrgios dug in like few times before, illustrating composure and patience we hadn’t seen from him earlier in the night.

Afterwards even Kyrgios was lost for words as to how the tides changed.

The same came through in his press conference afterwards with Kyrgios describing himself as an old veteran of the sport.

“The only thing I really had on him today was experience. I have been in so many big matches, and on that court in particular, two sets to love down, winning.  

“You know, I’ve just been through so much on the court, I just felt like I was an old savvy veteran who had experience over him. He’s a young guy.  I don’t think he’s been in too many five-set matches in Australia with that kind of crowd against him.

“I don’t think I have ever saved match points before at the Australian Open,” he said. 

“I have had match points and lost. But, yeah, that match was -- it was a crazy one.  I have been a part of a lot of matches, and that one has been definitely one of the most memorable ones, but I’m still kind of in awe about the atmosphere.  

“Definitely, the stadium definitely didn’t feel half full, that’s for sure.  

“I was just speaking to my physio about it.  He’s seen me tank matches, play matches, epic five-setters, everything,and that was still one of the most crazy matches for both of us.  

“We have seen it all, but that was insane.”

Watch over 40 live ATP Tour tournaments, 40 live WTA Tour tournaments, and every ATP + WTA Finals match live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Then his extraordinary shot-making took over in an awe-inspiring 10-minute period where he ripped the match from Humbert’s grasp.

This was a famous victory, one that should take pride of place alongside the Australian star’s biggest achievements to date and that’s breathed life into a tournament that desperately needed it.

“I know that many people don’t think that I have a heart or compete as hard as they want me to compete from time to time.

“But I’ve been through a lot, and I didn’t just put my hand in a lucky dip and appear here. I put in a lot of hard work when I was young.

“I’ve gone through a lot, and nothing’s really been handed to me. I’ve won all the matches on my own. I don’t have a coach. I do everything basically on my own and I always got myself.

“I always got my back. In that moment, I was just like, ‘Dude, just keep pushing and maybe something special can happen’.

“There was a moment in the fourth where I broke back and I was like, ‘Dude, this could be one of the most memorable matches of your career and you owe it to yourself’.

“I put myself in a position to have moments like this. I always, somehow, keep surprising myself.”

Nick Kyrgios will play Dominic Thiem in the third round. Picture: Getty Images

Kyrgios walked an emotional tightrope all night, including destroying his racquet after a wasteful 12th game in the opening set, when three ill-advised drop shots backfired to hand Humbert the set.

There was also a running debate with the besieged chair umpire, who wore the brunt of his disgust at repeated let calls he felt were unjustified.

Nick Kyrgios had a running battle with the umpire over let calls. Picture: AFP

After impressively hitting back to level the contest at a set-all, Kyrgios’ decision to attempt a 212km/h second serve at 30-30 in the eighth game of the third set proved the first turning point.

The monster serve crashed into the net, exposing him to a break point before Humbert punished another ordinary Kyrgios drop shot to clinch the decisive break.

That racquet mash from the end of the first set came back to hurt him at that point, when his decision to whack a ball in anger cost him a second code violation and subsequently a point penalty.

Humbert snatched a two-sets-to-one advantage, then capitalised on Kyrgios’ disappointment to grab another break and ensure the Aussie was playing catch up.

To Kyrgios’ credit, he re-engaged and managed to fight his way back into the contest.

Nick Kyrgios congratulates Ugo Humbert after the match. Picture: AFP

CRACKS APPEAR

With Humbert thumping the ball off the ground, Kyrgios was sometimes forced metres behind the baseline but adopted patience not often associated with him.

That’s where the cracks started appearing in the Frenchman’s game.

His serve rescued him from 15-40 down in the eighth game of the fourth set, but couldn’t do the same two games later – with two match points going begging – as Kyrgios finally broke back.

It was a procession from that stage, with the Canberran going on a rampage to breeze through the tiebreak in spectacular fashion and hit his way into a deciding set.

Kyrgios’ hopes hung by a thread when he faced a break point in the second game, before another outburst about let calls, but he impressively hung tough once more.

The next game proved Humbert’s final undoing, with a feeble backhand finding the net to gift his rival the break, one he never relinquished.

Meantime, fellow Australian Alex Bolt was bundled out of the Open in the second round by 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets 7-6(7-1) 6-1 6-2.

“Honestly, if you were in my head, I actually was just thinking about just all the sh** I was going to cop if I lost that match,” Kyrgios said after the match.

“Honestly, I don’t know how I did that. I don’t even know what to say, I’m lost for words honestly. That is one of the craziest matches I’ve ever played.

“I’m telling you, if you were inside my head, there were some dark thoughts in there. It tends to be my career. Live to fight another day. Hopefully I can keep continuing to play good tennis like that in front of you guys. That’s all I can ask for.”