The Nick Kyrgios Experience was in full swing against Dominic Thiem, from the forearm that successfully closed the second set to the back, between-the-legs misses that gave up the third and so much more – to the delight of the Australian Open’s last spectators for a while.
Kyrgios, a 25-year-old Australian who was part-time and a part-time show, had a great time while having a perfect start, with a rough, biased crowd and a two-set lead in the third round. Friday against second-seeded Thiem, the reigning U.S. Open champion and runner-up from last year at Melbourne Park.
Not surprisingly, the talented and stormy Kyrgios was certainly less amused after his game level plunged, leading to a tossed racket, his usual kind of back-and-forth with the chair referee, a few warnings leading to a point penalty to resulted in – – and a hard to swallow lost to Thiem with a score of 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
At Flushing Meadows last September, Thiem became the first man in 71 years to return to win the final after dropping the first two sets, so it was nothing new to him. And in calm contrast to the ever-animated Kyrgios, Thiem reserved his display of emotion for a simple shake of a raised right fist that indicated his break to go up 4-3 in the fifth set and then the final point.
It was Kyrgios’ second consecutive five-pointer at John Cain Arena with 10,500 capacity; in the previous round he erased two match points on his way to Ugo Humbert no. 29 to eliminate.
This time, he was the one who blew a lead, which could have been even more important if he hadn’t missed a few break points at the start of the third set.
The stadium was about three-quarters full on Friday; many in attendance were not mindful of being socially distant or wearing the masks that would become mandatory for the state of Victoria at midnight. The state government has imposed a five-day detention due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
While the competition may continue at the tournament, no spectators will be allowed from Saturday.
“It was a good last game before the lock,” Thiem said. “It’s really sad to say.”
With one last night tentative, therefore, people lived their best lives.
They sang during exchanges while Kyrgios sipped on a soda can. They jump and shout at Kyrgios’ winners. They hit the backs of the seats. They applauded Thiem’s mistakes. They ring short-line calls made against Kyrgios – even if such decisions are made by an automated camera system, not line judges, during this event.
The spectacle began during the warm-up, when Kyrgios – with a beige sleeve on his left leg – wore to wave his practice and ask his fellow Aussies to get harder. They obviously had to elicit a big grin from their guy.
When Kyrgios breaks the serve in the initial match, he jumps over in delight and enjoys the teasing cheers, while he puts his right hand on his ear cup to beg for more again – and again, they comply.
His first game featured an underarm stroke and a half volley, which did not work, nor was it the last of the tricks he would try.
When Thiem reached out a hand to be broken and jerked 5-4 in the second half, Kyrgios shouted ‘Let’s go, baby!’ As he stretches to the switch. When the forearm ends the set, Kyrgyz stretches his arms wide, as if to say: Are you not amused? ‘
Later, he doubts the loss of a point during an obstacle call and says that his call for his opponent is not louder or more distracting than the growl of other players.
Thiem was the runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Melbourne Park a year ago and subsequently won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in September. Thiem was the first man in 71 years to return from a two-set hole in the final in New York, and now he has reversed that kind of deficit again.
Thiem will now face Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the quarterfinals.
Also on Friday, Diego Schwartzman, the No. 8 seed, was eliminated in the third round by Aslan Karatsev, a qualifier from Russia who finished 114th and made his Grand Slam debut.
By far the biggest win of the 27-year-old Karatsev’s career came with a difficult margin of 50-5 in total winners and a skewed score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
He is only the fifth man since 2000 to reach the round of 16 in his first appearance at a major championship. He is also the first qualifying player to come this far at Melbourne Park since Milos Raonic a decade ago.
Karatsev has never beaten a player who was higher than 48th. He will now meet another selected player with a quarter-final at stake – no. 20 Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Schwartzman was a semi-finalist at the French Open last year and entered a 9-0 record against qualifiers in Grand Slam matches on Friday.
Earlier, Alexander Zverev needed just 1 hour, 43 minutes to defeat Adrian Mannarino in the Rod Laver Arena and advance to the fourth round.
Zverev, the number 6 team that reached the semifinals of last year’s tournament, had 19 aces and 35 winners en route to a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 victory. He is chasing his first Grand Slam title in his career.
Zverev won three victories over Mannarino in 2020, including a four-set victory in the third round of the US Open in September.
“I’m very happy,” Zverev said after Friday’s victory. “I played him three times last year, and they were all long and difficult matches. Today I decided I would hit the ball a little harder.”
Zverev (23) comes next time against the no. 23 selected Dusan Lajovic, who defeated Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-1, 6-4.
In other men’s matches, Dimitrov, the No. 18 seed, advanced to the fourth round when Pablo Carreno Busta retired due to an injury in the second set. Dimitrov led 6-0, 1-0 when Carreno Busta withdrew.
Canadian men played two-for-three in their third-round matches. The third loses just because he played a fellow Canadian.
Auger-Aliassime beat Denis Shapovalov, No. 11, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 in the all-Canadian match at Margaret Court Arena.
Shapovalov won their two previous Grand Slam matches at the 2018 and 2019 U.S. Open. Auger-Aliassime says “he hit me pretty bad a few times.”
Auger-Aliassime also reached the fourth round of last year’s US Open. He next plays Russian thinner Aslan Karatsev.
Canadian veteran Raonic advanced to the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the eighth time by beating Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
The 14th seeded Raonic’s best performance during the Australian Open was to reach the semi-finals in 2016.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.