Australia’s Nick Kyrgios plays a forehand in his third round match against Malek Jaziri of Tunisia during day five of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Friday night. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Kyrgios overcomes nose bleeds, an aching back and a tenacious Tunisian as Tomic powers past compatriot Sam Groth.
Nick Kyrgios has overcome nose bleeds, an aching back and a tenacious Tunisian to safely join Bernard Tomic in the last 16 of the Australian Open.
Completing a triumphant night double for Australia, Kyrgios ended Malek Jaziri’s surprise run with a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 third-round victory over the world No 75.
Tomic outclassed fellow Australian Sam Groth 6-4 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 to set up a fourth-round showdown with Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych.
Incredibly, having not won a tour match since the US Open in September, Kyrgios now has a huge opportunity to emulate his charge to last year’s Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Instead of an expected showdown with Roger Federer on Sunday, Kyrgios will square off with Italian Andreas Seppi, a shock four-set winner over the Swiss superstar earlier on Friday.
Kyrgios took care of Seppi in straight sets in the second round in New York in what proved to be the 19-year-old’s last ATP win of 2014 before calling an end to his exhausting campaign in October.
Kyrgios isn’t taking the world No 46 lightly, but knows the door is ajar to the last eight.
“It’s sport – upsets happen. He’s obviously playing some really good tennis,” Kyrgios said. “I’m really looking forward to it, but now I’ve got to prepare and do everything right.”
After withdrawing from the Hopman Cup with a back complaint and losing in the first round in Sydney, Kyrgios hadn’t won a match this year before arriving at Melbourne Park.
“It’s a great feeling. I haven’t played too many matches. It feels good to get some wins at my home slam,” he said. “It feels awesome coming back.”
After reaching round three with a four-set second-round defeat of towering seed Ivo Karlovic, Kyrgios was well-fancied to see off Jaziri. He did so, but it wasn’t all straightforward.
Kyrgios was treated several times early on for nose bleeds, at one point needing stuffing to play on.
Jaziri handed him the only break of the opening set with a double-fault and then Kyrgios had to fight back from 4-0 down in the second-set tiebreaker to keep the African at bay.
Just when Kyrgios seemed like putting the Tunisian to bed, the teenager sought a medical timeout at 4-1 in the third set and dashed off court for a back rub.
But he returned to break Jaziri once more, plunder his 25th ace and finally get the job done after one hour and 58 minutes.
Tomic was particularly impressive against Groth, claiming the only two service breaks and saving a set point in the pivotal second-set tiebreaker to trump the tournament’s ace leader in one hour and 43 minutes.
Tomic played a great opening set, committing just three unforced errors and claiming the only service break in the third game when Groth double-faulted at 15-40.
It was the only invitation Tomic needed as he took the set in 27 minutes.
Groth created the first set point in the second-set breaker, but his booming serve failed him, the 27-year-old double-faulting at the worst possible time.
Groth saved two set points with unreturnable deliveries but a backhand return long gave Tomic a two-set-to-love lead and stranglehold on the match.
Tomic broke again in the third game of the third set before holding firm to march on.
But having lost his two previous tour meetings with Berdych, both in four sets on Wimbledon’s grass courts in 2013 and 2014, the 22-year-old knows he needs a special performance on Sunday to keep his Open hopes alive.
Despite his superior head-to-head record, Berdych knows he has a battle on his hands.
“I’ve played Tomic a couple of times in slams at Wimbledon and they were both very tough matches,” he said after beating Viktor Troicki in straight sets on Friday.
“He really loves to play on grass and they weren’t easy matches at all, but here there’s always a bit extra for him playing in front of home crowds.
“He’s not an easy opponent at all”.
source:theguardian.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 