Nick Kyrgios’s comeback victory wakes up the Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios looked down and out before he flicked the switch and lit up the Australian Open with a stirring comeback victory.

Nick Kyrgios lived up to his big-ticket reputation with a stirring victory at the Australian Open on Wednesday night and at the same time delivered a shot in the arm to the pandemic-hit tournament. The electric atmosphere felt like the Melbourne Park of old.

When not whipping winners or ripping the umpire in frustration, the Australian was trying trick shots and landing most of them. And the crowd loved it.

The Canberran produced his best tennis in the nick of time against Frenchman Ugo Humbert, saving two match points late in the fourth set to win 5-7 6-4 3-6 7-6 (2) 6-4.

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Although Humbert may not have been well known to local audiences, his record over the past year suggested the left-hander was always going to pose a major threat to Kyrgios.

The 22-year-old was in a dominant position in the fourth set, only for his enigmatic rival to find his best form in a stunning reversal of fortunes.

The victory by Kyrgios is a boost for both tournament organisers and for the host broadcaster.

His win sets up a Friday night blockbuster against Austrian Dominic Thiem.

But Kyrgios during the match had doubts he would progress.

“Honestly, if you were in my head, I was just thinking about all the shit I was going to cop if I lost that match,” he said. “I don’t know how I did that. I am lost for words. That is one of the craziest matches I have ever played.

“I just remember down that end and having a couple of match points down and somehow got out of it, it was a strange match,” he said.

“If you were inside my head, there were some dark thoughts, I tell you what. But that tends to be my career. I live to fight another day.”

Thiem was a finalist in Melbourne last year and is the reigning US Open champion. The third seed will start the deserving favourite. But the right-hander will not have liked what he witnessed as Kyrgios got on a roll from late in the fourth set against Humbert.

Trailing 4-5 in the fourth set, the right-hander began producing the calibre of tennis that once made him the brightest prospect on the tour. Some of the points were scintillating.

And love him – as those in attendance at John Cain Arena clearly did – or hate his theatrics, it is difficult to argue Kyrgios is not among the most watchable players on tour when on song.

That goes for any sport, such is the nature of his shot-making and his combustibility on court.

As Kyrgios reeled in Humbert, Alja Tomljanovic tried to see off dual-major winner Simona Halep on another showcourt and Wednesday night suddenly felt like January 2020.

The roars from one side of the tournament site could be heard hundreds of metres away in another stadium court.

On Margaret Court Arena, Tomljanovic was on the verge of a major upset when leading the world No 2 5-2 in the deciding set.

Nick Kyrgios argues with the chair umpire on John Cain Arena Picture: AFP

Halep, though, is a champion. She refused to budge, defended gamely and ultimately delivered when it mattered most in a stirring victory. It was a fine performance from both.

There has been criticism of the size of the crowds the Australian Open has drawn to date this year. But on Wednesday, 19,900 fans trickled into Melbourne Park, the biggest this week.

It is an attendance that pales in comparison to a year ago but at least the joint was rocking.

For how long it remains is a fraught question given the most recent COVID-19 concerns stemming from a quarantine hotel on the outskirts of Melbourne.

With Kyrgios, Ash Barty and Alex de Minaur still in action, and legends including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams alive, it has the potential to be an exceptional Australian Open in an extraordinary year.