Novak Djokovic survived a scare and Nick Kyrgios saved match points as day three at the Australian Open caught the attention of the crowds.
Defensive champion and world number one Djokovic defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.
The Australian Kyrgios then produced thrilling five-set win over Ugo Humbert in front of a rowdy John Cain Arena.
Kyrgios’ Intense Game Display
Kyrgios has shown his usual mix of intense antics and exciting shots to beat the Frenchman 5-7 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.
He got down on his knees after winning the game before sitting in his chair and shook his head in disbelief.
Kyrgios often says that the John Cain Arena, open to all ticket holders, is his favorite to play in because of the atmosphere.
With Melbourne Park numbers being limited to 30,000 a day due to the coronavirus – the biggest shortage so far this week – it was the first time anything like the sound of a ‘crowd’ of tennis could be heard for months.
The home fans did not give up as they cheered for the Kyrgios fight from 5-4 down to the fourth set, before seeing him rest and, somehow, the fifth set wins.
“Honestly, if you were in my head, I was thinking about everything I was going to cop if I lost that match,” a disbelieving Kyrgios said.
“I don’t know what to say. I am lost for words.”
He will face last year’s finalist and US Open champion Dominic Thiem, after the Austrian eased past Germany’s Dominik Koepfer 6-4 6-0 6-2.
How Did Kyrogis Perform?
Kyrgios smashed a racquet after losing the first set, was given a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and continually complained about the technology for net cords.
However, while into the game, the antics stopped. He worked brilliantly, hit 30 aces, and his swats behind the base allowed him to hit 65 winners to run for Humbert.
As the crowd celebrated every Kyrgios point – and all the flaws from Humbert – he broke early in the deciding set.
On several points in the match, Kyrgios was the one who applauded his opponent’s gun as the crowd continued to block the home favorite.
At several points in the match, Kyrgios was the one applauding his opponent’s shots as the crowd continued to barrack for the home favourite.
The French 29th seed recovered to force Kyrgios to serve out the match, with the Australian looking shocked as Humbert sent a backhand long after three hours 39 minutes.
The Djokovic Game
In hot weather in Melbourne Park, Djokovic served 26 aces to the 23-year-old Tiafoe as the 33-year-old came through in three hours and 30 minutes.
“It was a very tough match and difficult conditions, while we had sun on the court it was very warm a lot of long rallies,” Djokovic said.
“I want to give a hand to Frances for a great fightback, it was a fantastic match.
“It’s not the first time I’ve been in this situation but I was lucky to win the third set, it was just anyone – high quality tennis, he gave it his all.”
American Tiafoe was upset at being handed a time violation and another led to the 23-year-old being docked his first serve in a game Djokovic went on to break in the fourth and final set. He also later received a code violation after an expletive-laden protest to the umpire.
“[It was] an unfortunate warning that took away his serve from him at 30-30 when I broke his serve,” Djokovic said. “That was unlucky because he deserved a first serve. It is what it is.”
The Other Winners
Austrian third seed Thiem was in court for an hour and 39 minutes when he beat German Koepfer 6-4 6-0 6-2 at the Rod Laver Arena.
But Swiss Stan Wawrinka exited in a fifth-set tie-break loss to Marton Fucsovics.
Hungarian Fucsovics, the world number 55, raced into a two-set lead before 2014 winner and 17th seed Wawrinka fought back on John Cain Arena.
Wawrinka then had three match points but it was Fucsovics who got the better of a 15-minute deciding tie-breaker to progress 7-5 6-1 4-6 2-6 7-6 (11-9).
He will face 14th seed Milos Raonic in the next round after the Canadian beat France’s Corentin Moutet 6-7 (1-7) 6-1 6-1 6-4.
Argentine eighth seed Diego Schwartzman is also through after seeing off French lucky loser Alexandre Muller 6-2 6-0 6-3.
Alexander Zverev, who lost the US Open final to Thiem, made light work of American Maxime Cressy, winning 7-5 6-4 6-3.
