PublishedJuly 2, 2022, 10:25 PM
In an electric encounter, the Australian offered himself the Greek (6-7 6-4 6-3 7-6) during the blockbuster of the 3rd round at Church Road.
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- Jeremy Santallo
(London)
The image that best sums up this match: Stefanos Tsitsipas in discussion with the referee and Nick Kyrgios with the supervisor.
Getty Images
Nick Kyrgios did it! In a breathtaking duel against world No 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 27-year-old delivered a great game and rose to the occasion. Often irascible, the fiery Australian ended up shouldering 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) after 3:17 in a short No 1 in fusion.
First excuse
On the heels of his second round meeting, Kyrgios was the best player in a first set which he nevertheless lost. Too shy about his two opportunities to break a little earlier, the Aussie found the first excuse – a bad announcement from a linesman – to get out of his bubble and let the tie-break slip away.
Equally tight, the second set was played at 5-4 in favor of Kyrgios on the serve of Tsitsipas. Facing a set point against him, the Greek went the wrong side on his net smash and saw his opponent wrap up the set. Exasperated by his bad choice, Tsitsipas then sent a bullet of rage in the public…
school playground
It was then that Kyrgios tried everything to have Tsitsipas sent off, reminding Damien Dumusois of the Novak Djokovic episode at the US Open, calling the French referee “idiot”, “shame” and demanding all the supervisors of the earth. He did not win and it is probably because the Greek only brushed against a human face.
He still took a warning before collecting a second by deliberately sending a return to the stands after a spoon service from Kyrgios, who had just made the break. Tsitsipas received a penalty point and also requested the intervention of the supervisor. Court 1 was transformed into a schoolyard.
Unhealthy atmosphere
The atmosphere became downright unhealthy at the end of the third set. Tsitsipas aimed Kyrgios on a spiked volley before the Australian mocked the Greek’s too deep backhand (“good shot”). At 5-3 30A, the net came to the aid of the Canberra kid on a drop shot forehand. This stroke of luck was well worth a bow.
The third set in hand, Kyrgios got a scare when he fell and then held his hip. The duel was already not lacking in electricity but closing the roof added a little more. After saving two set points and missing a match point, the Australian let his joy explode. And the handshake was brief.
Kyrgios, 40th player in the world, will play the round of 16 on Sunday against the American Brandon Nakashima (56th).