Wimbledon 2019: Nick Kyrgios beats fellow Australian Jordan Thompson in first round

We saw Despondent Nick, Clown Nick, Carefree Nick, Naughty Nick. In the end, it was Victorious Nick.

The many faces of Nick Kyrgios during his victory over Jordan Thompson at Wimbledon overnight. Picture: Agencies

Nick Kyrgios won a particularly hard fought first round match at Wimbledon against fellow Australian Jordan Thompson, setting up a highly anticipated showdown with Rafael Nadal tomorrow.

Nadal and Kyrgios’ frosty relationship was cemented earlier this year when the Canberra player beat Nadal on the way to winning the Mexico Open.

Kyrgios exacerbated the tensions, saying in a recent podcast that Nadal was “super-salty” and hitting back at the Nadal camp for implying he was uneducated.

He said of Nadal: “It’s not a good look for you, I feel. And then Uncle Toni (Nadal) came out saying, ‘He lacks education’. I’m like, ‘Bro, I did 12 years at school, you idiot. I’m very educated. I understand that you’re upset I beat your family again’.”

Nadal, who comes to the grass court season with clay court domination at the Italian and French Opens, won his first round match against Yuichi Sugita in straight sets early this morning.

Kyrgios struggled in his clash with Thompson, winning tight tie breaks in the first and third sets, then allowing the fourth set to blow out for a rest to prepare for the crucial fifth set.

He eventually won the three-and-a-half-hour game 7-6, 3-6, 7-6, 0-6, 6-1.

Kyrgios said he was very sore after such an incredibly tough match.

“I think coming into today, Tommo is probably one of the most in form grass courters of the season. He made his first final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. He’s obviously feeling pretty comfortable on the grass.

“I looked at my draw, I was excited because we’ve known each other since we were about nine. We played at every age group. To see each other playing at the highest level against each other, it was pretty cool.

“I’m sore at the moment. That was one of the longest matches I’ve played in a long time, so … Yeah, it was fun.”

At times it was difficult to pinpoint exactly which mood Kyrgios was in.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios slumps over the net during his Wimbledon first round victory over Jordan Thompson. Picture: AFP

Petulant Nick arrived with Thompson three minutes late to court three — a most unusual departure from Wimbledon’s strict procedures — and nonchalantly tossed his bag, and then his racquet, to the ground.

Down an early break in the first set, it was the Despondent Nick, his slumped shoulders only saved from bending double by the enthusiasm of the large crowd — inexplicably firmly behind him from the get-go; and only occasionally was there a lone voice yelling “Go Thommo”.

In the latter stages of the first set it was Hero Nick who fired down serves at 218km/h to save set points, interspersed with Clown Nick who swivelled his hips to loosen up his glutes for the crowd and quipping to a laughing audience. Then in the tie break it was Serious Nick, muttering to himself to “every ball, every ball, take the set, come on”.

His self-help worked, and he won the tie break 7-4.

Nick Kyrgios smashes a forehand. Picture: AFP

Then in the second set during a not unimportant point, it was Carefree Nick who tried a tweener because he was too lazy to move his feet, only for the ball to hit the net.

Meanwhile at the other end of the court Thompson was frustrated in his inability to close out various points, tossing his racquet high into the air. In the third set, Thompson even yelled at the umpire, telling him “why do you have a shocker?’’ when a ball he overruled was proved to be incorrect.

But of course it was only a matter of time before Naughty Kyrgios emerged; down 4-5 in the third set he whacked a ball clean out of the court and disputed a correct line call. He received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct and started ranting about the line judge to the umpire.

Kyrgios said: “Does he get fined? Just answer my question. I’m playing for hundreds of thousands of dollars and he’s making idiot calls like that.”

Then he shouted at the linesman: “Wake up.”

Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson embrace after their five-set Wimbledon marathon. Picture: AFP

The tie break in the third set was extraordinary, but magnified Histrionic Nick who raced around the court, throwing himself on the ground in mock celebration and moaning for every hit in a baseline rally, seemingly annoyed that his firebrand serve hadn’t secured the easier ace. He tried the underarm serve at one of the eight set points, then in the tie break he screamed “Can’t buy a first serve”. Then after his second was a let, a wag in the crowd replied: “Can’t buy a second serve”.

He berated himself throughout the match, calling himself an idiot. In between sets he would talk to himself, muttering: “Are you a spectator or in the team, what are you doing, stupid?”

Kyrgios said he wasn’t going to change the way he played matches as it had been his way since he was 12 years old.

“I’m never going to change. I used to be like this when I played under 12s, 14s. I just go out there, have fun, play the game how I want it to be played,” he said.

“At the end of the day, I know people are going to watch. Like, they can say the way I play isn’t right or he’s classless for the sport, all that sort of stuff. They’re probably still going to be there watching. It doesn’t really make sense.”