Australian Open: Nick Kyrgios pulls off another showstopper

There were flashes of frustration, but Nick Kyrgios ultimately pulled off another Australian Open showstopper.

Nick Kyrgios fires a serve against Gilles Simon serves during his Men's Singles second-round match at the Australian Open. Picture: Mark Stewart

There were flashes of frustration, but Nick Kyrgios ultimately pulled off another Australian Open showstopper in an enigmatic performance in Melbourne on Thursday night.

The 24-year-old was dynamic for the best part of three sets against Frenchman Gilles Simon but lost his way when in a dominant position, only to regroup strongly when the Frenchman challenged. What had been a joyful romp became a challenge of his new-found focus. But after a concentration dip, he was able to triumph 6-2 6-4 4-6 7-5.

It remains to be seen whether Kyrgios has regained his mojo.

Importantly, he looked for the most part as though he was having a ball on the tennis court. Melbourne Arena is where he plays his best tennis and that again proved the case against Simon, aside from the third set fade out when leading 4-2.

Kyrgios said he would love to play his third round match on Melbourne Arena, describing the atmosphere on the court as “epic”.

“I definitely lost my way a little bit. He is a tough competitor. He knows how to win matches,” Kyrgios said. “I could have gone to a very dark place in the fourth set but I somehow put that away. It was tough match. It would have been very interesting had it gone to a fifth set.”

Kyrgios is playing with power and precision and moving extremely well. The challenge will be to hold it together as the Australian Open progresses.

And the challenges will only get harder. He faces the winner of a clash between Russian Karen Khachanov and Swede Mikael Ymer next. Should the opponent be Khachanov, it will be a reminder of Kyrgios’s darker deeds.

It was against the Russian in Cincinnati last year when he exploded after being issued a time violation.

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The subsequent tantrum led to the probation he is currently serving on the ATP Tour.

Should he survive the third round? Possibly Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard has enticed the best from Kyrgios, at least on the court, and it would be a blockbuster fourth-round clash.

John Millman and Alexei Popyrin have joined Kyrgios in the third round. Millman will play Roger Federer on Rod Laver Arena on Friday night, while Popyrin faces fourth seed Danill Medvedev on Saturday.

As a result of his win, Kyrgios will usurp the injured Alex de Minaur as the Australian No 1.

It is well known that Kyrgios loves basketball. The razzmatazz piques his interest. And apparently he plays some mean ball when relaxing back home in Canberra. During practice at the National Tennis Centre earlier this week, he was wearing a Boston Celtics singlet with the No 20 of Gordon Hayward.

The airtime he achieved midway through the opening set as he thrashed a drive forehand volley was a hint at what might have been had he chosen basketball.

His athleticism is astonishing. And so too was his game on a brisk night by Melbourne’s standards in summer.

Kyrgios started in a manner that suggested he had a reservation to meet later in the evening.

He was focused from the opening points and was able to break the serve of the Frenchman in the opening service games of all three sets. This has long been a habit favoured by Federer, as it allows him to dictate proceedings with his superb serve.

Kyrgios first looked agitated when he was trying to close out the second set. Renowned as one of the fastest players between points, Kyrgios was not pleased when issued with a time violation.

He proceeded to mimic Rafael Nadal, who is infamous for the time he takes between points.

When Kyrgios zipped from the blocks at the start of the third, his progression appeared certain. But he lost his focus and radar on serve, and ultimately the set, as his concentration began to fray.

To his credit, Kyrgios remained with the former world No 6 throughout the fourth set before seizing the crucial break on his fourth opportunity at 5-all.