It took 214 minutes for Nick Kyrgios to turn a two-set deficit into a spine-tingling five-set success over Roger Federer’s conqueror Andreas Seppi at the Australian Open on Sunday night.
The 19-year-old Australian, and his fast growing band of fans, will long remember the 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 8-6 victory that has set up a quarter-final clash with Andy Murray.
But the excitement machine gave notice of what he’s capable of at his first Wimbledon appearance last year, coming from two sets down to quality Frenchman Richard Gasquet to win their second round clash 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 10-8.
And two rounds later blasting world number one Rafael Nadal off centre court 7-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3. That was simply magnificent.
Last night, even the most ardent Kyrgios fan would have been prepared to wave the white flag when he blew six break points in the first two lost sets, with his serving and powerhouse ground astray off both wings.
We should have had more faith.
Bit by bit Kyrgios fought his way back into contention, and while Seppi wasn’t off the boil, Kyrgios started regaining his confidence and power.
And the packed Hitense Arena of 10,500 went with him, with many more thousands in long queues outside trying to get a guernsey. They collectively raised the roof their support was so vocal, led by the ever-present Fanatics.
In the end, Kyrgios blasted 25 aces to 23, Seppi struck 71 winners to 66, both players made 74 unforced errors, and Kyrgios won 184 points overall to 181.
Not much to separate in those stats, but in the final three sets, Kyrgios won the vital points.
But never underestimate the value of break point conversions. In the five sets, Kyrgios converted three out of nine, that translates to three out of three in the last three sets. Seppi converted one of three in the same period.
Can Kyrgios go any further? Of course he can. There’s no limit to how far he can go, in any tournament.
As master coach Nick Bollettieri predicted, Kyrgios’ future will be governed by what’s between his ears. Far too many times on Sunday night Kyrgios took the hard and low percentage option, with the court wide open.
Many of them were drop shots that just weren’t on. A waste.
That’s youthful exuberance, but once he overcomes the obvious, Nick Kyrgios can be the leading light of an Australian renaissance with the likes of Thanasi Kokkinakis, Sam Groth, James Duckworth and Luke Saville, with Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter their mentors.
I would like to include Bernard Tomic in that group, but one never knows which Tomic will turn up to play. The lacklustre and disinterested Tomic turned up to play Tomas Berdych on Sunday to disappear without trace 6-2, 7-6, 6-2 in two hours.
Tomic has a serve as dangerous as Berdych, but the Czech served 17 aces to six, and struck 52 winners to 27 because Tomic kept guiding the ball to land mid-court on the service line, giving Berdych far too many easy options.
One of Tomic’s strengths is his stroke-play power from the baseline, down the line and across court, but that major plus went missing as well.
Hopefully the real Bernard Tomic will appear on a regular basis.
But the jury is out, and Tomic didn’t do anything to make the jury come out from behind their closed door with a positive decision.
Kev
Guest
Now look who is making stuff up and seeing only what they want to see. Were you at the match? I was, front row, southern end and I heard him say "good shot" to Seppi just as often as he would have outbursts so no it wasn't just conceding one or two points.
Kev
Guest
The Australian cricket team does sledge as do all other nations. The difference is that while the behaviour of overseas teams is consistently ignored by people like yourselves, the Australian team's behaviour seems to be scrutinized more closely than anything else.
kimbonodice
Guest
Because he is greek...no such outrage when a blonde white bevan named Lleyton carried on like teenagers do.
kimbonodice
Guest
Sounds suspiciously like the assessment of Novak not that long ago.
kimbonodice
Guest
Hevis a fiery bugger but whoever got on the phone during a point deserves far more than Kyrgios gave. The only fans he will lose are bogans who think mid point is the time for a chat or a selfie and as they are only fair weather tennis fans i doubt the young man would care. critics should advise just how perfect they were as teenagers.
Kev
Guest
Why is he in the wrong for complaining about someone not keeping their phone on silent during a match? Oh let me guess, you didn't like how he did it? Right? Arrogant? Too angry? Perhaps he should have written a nice letter? Frankly if more players embarrassed specific members of the crowd by pointing their selfishness out during a match, more people would get the message. There are signs plastered all over courts and if that wasn't enough, common sense says you should put it to silent anyway. The only one I will give you is that yelling at a ballboy is not acceptable. 20 court violations? What a crock.
Wii
Guest
Quite clearly Kev is in denial and he probably also believes Warners comments weren't racist and the Australian cricket team doesn't sledge...
Kaks
Roar Guru
"Then again, people will only see what they want to see no matter what that athlete does" So does that mean that i really didn't see him yell at a ball boy? Drop the f-bomb so many times that im surprised he didnt receive one court violation or twenty? Smash his racquets more times in one match then i've seen in the whole grandslam? the mobile phone incident? Did i manufacture all of those incidences in my head?
Kev
Guest
"Again condoning his behaviour says more about the person commentating than anything else. " - No it doesn't and repeating it ad nauseam doesn't make it anymore correct. Yeah he could probably tone it down but all that seems to be motivated by a desire to play at a high standard. You say he needs to concentrate on his tennis. How do you know he isn't?
Wii
Guest
Again condoning his behaviour says more about the person commentating than anything else. He has been soundly taken to task by journos and professionals alike. His attitude is appalling and he needs to focus his self righteous arrogant I am be all and end all attitude and concentrate on his tennis. Like I said in posts above there are hundreds of tennis players and many great players who have never had he audacity to act like such spoilt brats. Pull your head Kyrgios and focus on your tennis,mif he does he could well take it to the next level. He is talented for sure but he has a lot to learn about humility and sportsmanship
Winston
Guest
Jesus aren't we all negative today? The first half of the article is in direct response to the Kyrgios match and yet everyone's gone on here about his behaviour and all that. I don't think I've seen ONE post above where we just talk about the match. That really was a magnificent match! To come back 2-0 down against someone who just beat Federer is ridiculously. That backhand down the line to win the 4th set was insanely good. I would like to comment on the posts above re Tomic though. I think finally people are realising that he's not that good. I remember when he first burst onto the scene lots of people were saying he's got all the tools and it's just what's between his ears that's the problem. I've always disagreed. I think his talent is already fully utilised and he is pretty much playing to his ability. Much like David Ferrer is playing to the limits of his body. When you compare the young Tomic to Kyrgios, or other young talents like Dimitrov, or think back to Philippoussis when he was young, I just don't think Tomic's got that much talent. He lacks power in his groundstrokes. He's not athletically gifted. His serve is weak compared to other people his height. What more can we expect of him?
Kev
Guest
"His behaviour is appalling and he needs to be called out on it, condoning childish behaviour says a lot to me about the person commenting." - Expecting all athletes to behave in the same way says a lot to me about the person commenting. Mainly that that they are the sanctimonious type.
Kev
Guest
Agreed. For someone his size, Tomic doesn't hit the ball hard enough and it is for that reason that I think that Kyrgios will win a slam before he does.
Kev
Guest
"Needs to realize that acting like an entitled prat doesn’t win Grand Slams or fans." - I was at the match and he was just as likely to praise a Seppi shot as he was to berate himself for stuffing up. There's a difference between acting entitled and having high expectations of yourself. Then again, people will only see what they want to see no matter what that athlete does. If there's any tennis player who acts like an entitled prat it's Berdych. He makes Serena Williams look like a saint.
Wii
Guest
Good lord conceded one or two points does not make up for yelling at ballboys, fans, swearing and smashing his racquet. His behaviour is appalling and he needs to be called out on it, condoning childish behaviour says a lot to me about the person commenting.
Frozennorth
Guest
Tomic's strength is stroke play baseline power?/ Seriously, no. Just no. Lack of Tennis knowledge is coming through there. One of his big WEAKNESSES is his lack of power from the baseline as he tends to nerf the ball around like he is still in juniors.
Eddard
Roar Guru
I think it's just because the likes of Djokovic and Serena Williams won't care about losing at the Hopman Cup. They don't put everything into it like they would a match that counts for ranking points. Tomic has 3 wins over players ranked in the top 10 at the time. Soderling (ranked 5th) at Wimbledon 2011, Mardy Fish (ranked 9th) at Shanghai in the same year and Richard Gasquet (ranked 9th) at Wimbledon 2013. Of the current top 10 he once beat Stan Wawrinka (who wasn't top 10 at the time) in a 2011 Davis Cup tie.
jamesb
Guest
Late in the match, Kyrios did concede a point to Seppi, after it was called a fault. And a couple of times during the match, he did applaud Seppis shots. He may be a prat to many, but he ain't all that bad.
Rob JM
Guest
The french will love him! The english will hate him!
Worlds Biggest
Guest
One of the great games last night, the atmosphere was one of the best I've seen at Melbourne Park. Kyrgios is a real talent. I missed his boorish behaviour as I missed parts of the game. That is disappointing what went down. He needs to grow up quickly. Tomic is an enigma but still only 22. Let's hope both fellas let there tennis do the talking.