Nick Kyrgios‘ second-round match against Russian superstar Daniil Medvedev was everything fans were expecting from the Australian entertainer.
Kyrgios went down in four sets to Medvedev at Rod Laver Arena.
Whether it was doing a lap of pure joy halfway around the court on break point with the Rod Laver Arena fans behind him, blowing up at the chair umpire over a time violation, or even having a mid-match conversation with tennis legend Dylan Alcott, Kyrgios displayed it all.
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The performance left US tennis legend Jim Courier with a simple question for viewers at home.
“Are you not entertained?” Courier asked in commentary for Nine.
Twitter was sent into a frenzy, with AFL stars like Mitch Robinson and Tom Papley, along with pundits and media identities from around the world, all watching closely.
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https://twitter.com/julietbawuah/status/1484109077290573828https://twitter.com/JamieJarosik/status/1484112429890080768https://twitter.com/TomPapley/status/1484112079552679936https://twitter.com/NotoriousOHM/status/1484093526476410881https://twitter.com/Stella4Menzies/status/1484111853970403328https://twitter.com/MitchRobinson05/status/1484111617394880512https://twitter.com/ThatUnitedLady/status/1484111570426814469https://twitter.com/greg4hire/status/1484111462423740423
Kyrgios fires up over violation
Kyrgios during the third set was seeing red with the chair umpire after he was given a time violation for not being ready to receive a Medvedev serve.
A furious Kyrgios approached Bernardes in his chair and the pair exchanged a few words.
Here’s how the exchange went:
Kyrgios: All I did was walk to my towel. I walked to my towel! Usually the ballkids give me my towel.
Bernardes: You are receiving, you’re not serving.
Kyrgios: Listen! I don’t want to talk to you, listen to me.
Bernardes: So don’t scream, stop yelling.
Kyrgios: Usually the ballkids give me the towel – yes or no? Usually, yes, they do right? All I did was walk to my towel. That’s all I did.
https://twitter.com/gasparlanca/status/1484089907215839242
Kyrgios chats with Alcott
Kyrgios early in the match casually stopped by to chat with Alcott courtside. Here’s what was said:
“He’s up and about,” Alcott said.
“He’s right in it, but he said, ‘It’s so tough to play this bloke’ because unless he makes his first serve every time, the guy is like a robot and he doesn’t miss a shot.
“He also said he wants to go the underarm serve every time and I said, ‘Go for it, why not if you’re standing that far back’.
“He’s right in it and he’s engaged. Even though it’s a tough one out here, I think he feels like he’s got a good shot.”
Kyrgios’ glorious celebration of stunning volley
Bringing up two crucial break points while trying to survive in the third set, Kyrgios celebrated the moment in a way only he could.
“He made it… he’s doing a lap of honour!” said former Australian tennis star Todd Woodbridge in commentary.
https://twitter.com/TennisPodcast/status/1484112567358431233?s=20https://twitter.com/dannolan/status/1484111434586165251?s=20https://twitter.com/ChrisReive/status/1483373780215173123?s=20
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