Nick Kyrgios abuses Australian Open crowd, who respond with love

IT TRULY was an incredible spectacle. As Nick Kyrgios abused the crowd at the Australian Open last night, they responded with even more love.

Australia's Nick Kyrgios reacts after a point against Italy's Andreas Seppi during their men's singles match on day seven of the 2015 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO / PAUL CROCK -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

OPINION: YOU couldn’t take your eyes off it.

With every high and every low, you knew exactly what Nick Kyrgios was thinking. And so did certain members of the crowd.

“Get off your f***ing phone, mate,” the 19-year-old yelled at one fan after losing a point at Hisense Arena.

“Are you right, mate?” he yelled at another, who screamed out during Kyrgios’ service motion.

When one pair attempted to leave the stadium during a game, causing a brief stoppage in play, the young Aussie also got involved.

“Where are you going?” he said, drawing a laugh.

Kyrgios took you on the ride with him, every step of the way as he produced an incredible performance to defeat Italian veteran Andreas Seppi 5-7 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 8-6 in a five-set epic at Melbourne Park.

Next minute, he’s celebrating.

A fed up Nick Kyrgios throws his racquet.

The crowd loved every minute of it, smashing advertising hoardings, jumping and chanting as Kyrgios became the first teenager to make two grand slam quarter-finals since the great Roger Federer did it in 2001.

“You never see this in a slam. Never,” Channel 7 commentator and former world No. 1 Jim Courier said of the rocking atmosphere.

“The crowd is jumping around like it’s a European football match.”

Kyrgios was up and down like a yo-yo. One minute he was cursing, throwing his racquet. The very next point, he was jumping around fist-pumping.

He collapsed to the ground after finally securing the come-from-behind victory, and made it clear his little outbursts at the crowd took nothing away from his appreciation for the enormous level of support he received.

“This is my favourite court I’ve ever played on. By far,” Kyrgios said, earning another roar.

It’s over. Nick Kyrgios prevails in a five-set epic.

He said afterwards he needed to work on keeping his emotions in check on the court.

But is he a player, like the likes of Lleyton Hewitt and John McEnroe, who plays their best tennis when they leave it all out there?

Kyrgios is a showman. He will be a divisive character, without doubt. The earrings. The slits in the eyebrow. The imposing haircut. But tennis needs characters like him. Every sport does.

Last week, he copped a bit of criticism — including from news.com.au — about how he handled himself in a post-match interview, answering questions with attitude and sarcasm.

It appeared to be a one-off, however, holding himself perfectly well in his media appearances since.

Without question, Kyrgios still needs to mature and Bernard Tomic has proven this week just how possible that is.

Tomic, now 22, has been immensely impressive, both on the court and off it, acting like a true professional.

There was no better example than after his loss yesterday to world No. 7 Tomas Berdych. Tomic admitted he played well but Berdych was simply better.

“When he’s playing good, you cannot do anything,” Tomic said.

“You just have to stick in the match and hopefully turn it around. Today he was just playing well and he was going for his shots. There was not a lot I could do.”

In a week, Tomic has essentially been able to change public opinion of him simply by not acting like a twit.

It’s a fine line, and Kyrgios needs to be very careful not to cross it, but at the moment he’s walking it just right.