By Jon Pierik
London: Nick Kyrgios showed why he is such a frustrating but mercurial talent in toppling fellow Australian Jordan Thompson to set up what shapes as a second-round Wimbledon grudge match against Rafael Nadal.
Kyrgios, unseeded here for the first time since 2015, fluctuated between moments of passion and skill to disinterest and abysmal shot selection but eventually claimed a 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 7-6 (12-10), 0-6, 6-1 win in three hours and 26 minutes.
This was the 43rd-ranked Kyrgios at his best and worst but he somehow found a way in the final set to edge the plucky Thompson.
While the two men embraced and shared a joke when shaking hands once the game was over, their emotions had flared on the boutique court three, adding to the flavour of the sunny afternoon.
Kyrgios awaited the winner on Wednesday morning of the clash between Nadal and Japan's Yuichi Sugita. The tennis world, though, hopes Nadal gets through, for he and Kyrgios do not like each other, their disdain shown after the Spaniard accused his Australian opponent of showing a lack of respect during an extraordinary Mexican Open second-round encounter in March.
In front of father George and sister Halimah, Kyrgios fought with himself – and his opponent – but was able to advance to the second round of a grand slam for the first time this year. But, in order to advance further at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, he will need to eradicate many of his 51 unforced errors. That he won only 42 per cent of his second serves was another issue, so was his code-of-conduct violation for abusing a line judge.
Nick Kyrgios returns to Australia's Jordan Thompson.Credit: AP
Having had a limited grass-court preparation, Kyrgios found himself trailing 1-4 in the first set. He hit back on his next service game but Thompson responded with a strong service game of his own to take a 5-2 lead. Kyrgios rebounded and locked scores at 5-5.
Thompson led 40-15 in the 11th game but Kyrgios continued to claw his way back. He forced deuce and saved two more game points, forcing Thompson, at one point, to make a brilliant volley.
"Hell of a volley," Kyrgios responded, while clapping his racquet.
Thompson held serve, meaning Kyrgios had to do likewise to force a tie break. An ace down the centre line confirmed that. Kyrgios took a 4-2 lead when players changed ends in the tie break, and extended that with a delicate drop shot from the baseline. In a jovial, even playful mood, he crunched two aces to claim the first set.
Jordan Thompson led 40-15 in the 11th game but Nick Kyrgios continued to claw his way back.Credit: AP
The contest shifted in the second set, as Thompson's grinding tactics began to have an impact.
Kyrgios was in no mood for long rallies, and too often went the drop shot – as he did so often through the day – when it wasn't really on. There was one spectacular shot, though, when a backhand down the line almost on his knees was played as if it was a cricketing cover drive. As the crowd clapped, he practised a forward defence.
The fun soon ended. Thompson broke to take a 4-3 lead but Kyrgios could have hit back immediately but squandered on advantage when, again, he opted for a sliced drop shot during a long rally. Kyrgios again dropped serve, his shot selection questionable. He then called for a medical time out, needing treatment for a leg complaint but returned.
Emotions boiled over in the third set. Kyrgios argued with the umpire about ground noise and then had a crack about a line call.
"I am playing for hundreds of thousands of dollars ... but he [linesman] is making mistakes like that. Wake up!"
Kyrgios disputes a call with umpire Ali Nili during his Men's singles match against ThompsonCredit: AP
Thompson also lost his cool, and was issued a racquet abuse warning.
Kyrios, at one stage, made the odd decision to go for an underarm serve on match point. This allowed Thompson back into the contest, and he forced a second tie break. He was again on the back foot, trailing 2-5, but won the next three points. Krygios had set point at 6-5 but Thompson ripped a cross-court forehand.
It was one of five wasted set points for Kyrgios, opportunities he either squandered or had little control over as Thompson continued to punch on.
There was more agitation about line calls. "You are having a shocker," Kyrgios said indirectly at one point. And frustration over his first serve. "Can't buy a first serve!" he boomed.
Finally, after 76 minutes, he held his nerve and raised his hands in delight.
Yet again, though, came a relapse. Within 11 minutes he trailed 0-3 in the fourth set, failing to win a point on his second service game. He had only four points to his credit when he fell behind 0-5. The set was lost in 18 minutes.
There were shouts of 'c'mon Nick' but would he listen? The first match was vital, and he claimed it in a dogfight in six minutes.
"This was always going five," Kyrgios mumbled between games when he had a 2-1 lead.
A deft touch at the net ensured a 3-1 lead and from there he managed to retain his nerve, his father whistling in delight when Kyrgios confirmed victory with a half volley scoop into the left corner.
Meanwhile, fellow Australian Alex de Minaur made a superb start to his campaign, thumping Italian Marco Cecchinato 6-0, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in just over two hours.
De Minaur is the highest-ranked male Australian and he claimed the first set in only 29 minutes.