A frenzied crowd and fear of a negative media reaction helped drive Nick Kyrgios to his greatest Australian Open triumph.
The mercurial Australian came back from the dead in his second round encounter with Frenchman Ugo Humbert, saving two match points in the fourth set for a stunning 5-7 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 victory.
Initially unsure exactly how he pulled it out of the bag, Kyrgios said an “insane” atmosphere helped. And the thought of facing the fourth estate.
“I was afraid to come into this room, you know,” he told a press conference after the match.
“(And) go to my Airbnb and just read about it and take it all in, take all the negativity in that I have already taken.
“It’s not easy to come back and try and put it all behind. I have been through a lot, and I didn’t just put my hand in a lucky dip and disappear.”
The world No.47 looked shot after coughing up four consecutive games across the third and fourth sets but he lifted with three stunning winners with the match on the line.
Speaking with his physio after the match, Kyrgios said it was right up there with his best wins anywhere.
“He’s seen me tank matches, play epic five-setters, everything, and that was still one of the most crazy matches for both of us,” he said.
“We’ve seen it all, but that was insane.”
Kyrgios said he was “in awe” of the thunderous crowd at John Cain Arena.
“The stadium definitely didn’t feel half full, that’s for sure.”
He had kind words for Humbert, who he rated one of the better up-and-coming-players on tour.
“I hope he doesn’t take it too hard on himself either. He played a hell of a match. He’s going to be really good.”
For his part, Kyrgios said he did get the sense that something special could unravel when he broke back in the fourth set.
“There was a moment … I was, like, ‘dude, this could be one of the most memorable matches of your career and you owe it to yourself’,” he said.
Kyrgios is prepared for a physical match when he meets 2020 finalist Dominic Thiem for a spot in the last 16.
“I have a lot of respect for him. I think his style of tennis is not easy to play. He’s super physical,” he said of Thiem.
“But I’m not even thinking about it. I’m hurting just thinking about playing him right now.”
© AAP
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