Australian Nick Kyrgios will have to keep his emotions in check and play close to the perfect match if he is to advance out of the third round at the 2016 Australian Open when he takes on sixth seed Thomas Berdych. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 8:30pm (AEDT) after Serena Williams versus Daria Kasatkina.
Kyrgios was troubled during his first round match, where if you didn’t pay attention to his actions and attitude you would have said he dominated from the outset. But that wasn’t the case as he recorded a straight sets victory over Pablo Cuevas.
He was uptight from the very beginning of the match and certainly took a while to warm into the contest – something he certainly won’t be able to afford when he takes on Berdych. He then went on to change shorts, complain and generally be Nick Kyrgios. At one point he asked the chair umpire if one of the linesmen were actually awake.
None the less he would win the match, as he did in the first round with straight sets and continue on his way through the Australian Open. It was a hardly surprising victory for Kyrgios, after his pre-Open form saw him defeat some of the big names in Tennis, including Andy Murray at the Hopman Cup in Perth.
Berdych meanwhile, the sixth seed for the first grand slam of the year has also had two straight sets victories so far in the tournament. They have come against Yuki Bhambri and then Mirza Basic whom he had very little trouble in dispatching.
Berdych, like some of the other big names at the Open chose during his lead-up to the Australian Open to skip tournaments in Australia, rather focusing on the tournament played in Doha. There, he made it all the way to the semi-finals, eventually falling in straight sets to Novak Djokovic who of course hasn’t dropped a set this year, so read into that what you will.
The pair have never played before this, and it will be interesting to see how Berdych handles Kyrgios’ erratic style and attitude on court. It is certainly something that could tip the game into the favour of Kyrgios.
Prediction
I expect Kyrgios to come in and out of the match here as he so often does. He will have ups and downs, while Berdych will play his usual consistent style. However, if Kyrgios can get on a run at any point then he could take the match away from Berdych at a rate of knots.
Kyrgios in five sets.
Join The Roar for live coverage of this third round match at the 2016 Australian Open from around 8:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to leave a comment if you’re following along with the action.
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Natasha
Guest
Totally agree! Absolute embarrassment to Australia.
Hammer50
Roar Rookie
Why do journalists give this Spoilt Brat so much coverage ? Why does Tennis Australia allow him to represent us ?
In brief
Guest
Actually, Kyrgios is a pretty good example of modern Australia in my view..
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match Results: Thomas Berdych has recoded a strong four set victory in the third round of the 2016 Australian Open, sending Nick Kyrgios crashing out of his home grand slam in four sets. Kyrgios took for ever to settle into this game, regularly getting agitated at his own game, and for a large period towards the end of the second set, a music sound coming out of the crowd although it could be barely picked up by anyone else. However, after dropping the opening two sets and not playing anything near his best, the incident seemed to pick him up as he raced into the third set, taking it 6-1. That though, would be the only bright spot for Kyrgios. The first two sets saw Berdych dominate, although Kyrgios was never completely out of the contest. Certainly, he will be feeling disappointed when it is considered how many first serves Berdych missed at different stages throughout the match. Going into the fourth set, Kyrgios was still playing strongly as he did until the end. The only problem for Kyrgios was that Berdych got back to his best and that would spell the end to any comeback Kyrgios was thinking about having. Taking the final set 6-4, Berdych found the perfect mix in his game and had his serve firing on all cylinders, making it incredibly hard for Kyrgios to even get near a break point. Berdych will now play Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round. Final Score: Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 Berdych 6 6 1 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
STATS: Aces: Kyrgios (18), Berdych (8) Double Faults: Kyrgios (2), Berdych (6) First serves in: Kyrgios (65/108 @ 60%), Berdych (64/112 @ 57%) Break points won: Kyrgios (2/6 @ 33%), Berdych (3/8 @ 38%) Winners: Kyrgios (42), Berdych (44) Unforced errors: Kyrgios (26), Berdych (35) Total points won: Kyrgios (105), Berdych (115)
Blake
Guest
Thank goodness that's over. I almost though Kyrgios might get back in and this country would have to suffer through another of his displays. That boy is an absolute blight on Australian sport. Please world, don't judge our character based on his...
Scott Pryde
Expert
Something like that. Shocking end.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full stats and report to come in a little bit.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Kyrgios just went full Stosur.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET MATCH THOMAS BERDYCH 3-1 Kyrgios with a double fault and what an anti-climatic end to this one. Berdych wins in four sets. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 Berdych 6 6 1 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kyrgios gets the first in and Berdych only just returns. Strong forehand and Berdych won't get there. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 - 15 Berdych 6 6 1 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault on the first before Berdych is simply too good on his forehand as he finds the corner 3 match points. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 - 0 Berdych 6 6 1 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Another fault before the second is again at the body. Berdych stands up and plays a cracking forehand down the line. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 - 0 Berdych 6 6 1 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kyrgios with a fault on the first before the second is at the body. Long rally and then Kyrgios is long on a forehad. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 - 15 Berdych 6 6 1 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kyrgios now to serve, and this is to save the match. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 Berdych 6 6 1 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault for Berdych before Kyrgios returns the second weakly. A strong forehand and Kyrgios plays a forehand long. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 Berdych 6 6 1 5
Scott Pryde
Expert
Berdych with a double fault. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 - 30 Berdych 6 6 1 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Cracked down the middle. Challenged, overruled and out. It won't matter as Kyrgios returns the second serve into the net. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 - 15 Berdych 6 6 1 4 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Berdych now with another strong serve and Kyrgios struggles to stay in the point before putting a backhand into the net that he only just reached. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 - 15 Berdych 6 6 1 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Berdych with a strong serve down the middle that Kyrgios can't return. He now double faults. Kyrgios 3 4 6 4 - 15 Berdych 6 6 1 4 - 15