Nick Kyrgios tried everything, but the part-time showman finally surrendered against the phlegm of world number 2, Daniil Medvedev (7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2), Thursday in the second round of the Australian Open.
Underhand serves, tweeners, serve-and-volleys, aces on second ball, spats with the ref, sprint around the court, drop shots, reflex volleys, Kyrgios predictably set fire to the Rod Laver Arena. But Medvedev remained unmoved, imperturbable and impassive in the face of his opponent’s antics and the relative fair play of the Australian fans, who did not hesitate to plug him in or hinder him, especially between his first and second balls. After almost three hours of play, the show finally gave in to the cold.
Entered the court under the “Siii” of the public, in reference to the celebration of Cristiano Ronaldo, new signing of the spectators in Melbourne, Kyrgios got two entry break points and challenged the spectators for the first time. Stoic, Medvedev saved them and broke in stride. Back up to 4-4 thanks to a backhand return along the line, the “Kygs” completely redacted the tie-break of the first set, conceding seven points in a row, from 1-0 to 1-7, with in particular a double fault and a poorly judged return when he only had to land his volley.
“I give absolutely everything. Physically, I have nothing left.
Nick Kyrgios to Dylan Alcott midway through the fourth set
Helpless on his opponent’s commitments in the second set, Kyrgios saw practically all his service bombs return to his feet. The Australian then turned to Gilles Cervara, coach of the Russian, to ask him what his colt’s weakness was on the return… At 4-5, he broke down completely, committed four unforced errors (volley, forehand, double fault , backhand) and offered a two-set advantage to the winner of the last US Open on a plateau.
“225, 240, 260… 2000 km/h! I can’t serve harder”enraged Kyrgios, addressing his clan, before receiving a warning for taking too long on the way back. “All I did was walk to my towelhe launched to the referee, Carlos Bernardes. Listen, listen! I don’t want you talking to me, listen to me. Usually the pickers give us the towel, right? I’m not trying to slow the game down.”
Annoyed, the 115th in the world found the resources to pull off an exceptional comeback game at 3-3 in the third set: a winning return, a reflex volley at the end of a magnificent defensive point and a winning forehand along the line to break. then, a few moments later, return to two sets to one in an incandescent atmosphere.
Kyrgios even got himself a fourth-inning break point. He ruined it with an easy, totally off-centre forehand. Without knowing it, the Australian had fired his last cartridge. : “I give absolutely everything. Physically, I have nothing left.he admitted to the change of sides (at 3-2 for Medvedev) to Dylan Alcott, world number 1 in wheelchair tennis, who commented on the meeting at the edge of the court.
“Guys, I can’t hear anything, show some respect for Jim Courier. He won here, thank you. At least respect someone, respect Jim Courier”
Daniil Medvedev to the audience after the game
His intervention took on its full meaning a few moments later. Two fouls on the fly and a serve-volley on the second ball punished by a winning return: break Medvedev. At 5-2 for the Russian, Kyrgios smashed his racquet and took a penalty point. He had given up, exhausted. The fire had gone out and Medvedev could slip away in the third round, where he will meet Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp on Saturday.
“There is no choice, when the public whistles between the first and the second service, you have to remain calm”, commented the world number 2 at the microphone of Jim Courier after the game. Booed by part of the stands for this provocative exit, the Russian mimed the incomprehension before putting on a layer: “Guys, I can’t hear anything, show some respect for Jim Courier. He won here, thank you. At least respect someone, respect Jim Courier. »
Two and a half years after becoming public enemy number 1 in New York, in a grotesque match against Feliciano Lopez at the 2019 US Open, Medvedev can expect another turbulent fortnight. Not sure he likes it.