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Kyrgios into Quarters: The Birth Of A Superstar in Melbourne
25 Comments · Posted by Staff in Articles
By Louise Belcourt
The most sensational match of the tournament has been played by the spirited young Aussie, Nick Kyrgios, to come from 2 sets down to defeat Roger Federer’s conqueror, Andreas Seppi 5-7 4-6 6-3 7-6(5) 8-8 in the fourth round. In front of a highly charged and boisterous local crowd, Kyrgios drew from the experiences of last year’s epic run to the Wimbledon quarter finals, saving one match point, to beat the Italian in 3 hours and 34 minutes booking a spot in the quarter finals of his home grand slam for the first time.
Kyrgios said, “I knew it was going to be tough from the get-go. I just had to draw on my experiences of coming back from two sets to love.â€
Doubts about his back, his emotive state and whether he can perform under local pressure were smashed after this emphatic victory, in which he drew strength from the crowd and courage from within to overcome the Italian.
“I was definitely nervous out there before I went out for the match tonight. This is actually the most nervous I’ve ever been, going out against Seppi in the fourth round. I am definitely feeling the pressure, but at the same time I had so much fun out there. It was a really good experience.â€
“I think I’m just managing my emotions a bit better out there. I thought I was pretty composed for the whole match. When I needed to get into the crowd, I did that. They were unbelievable tonight. I think they were a massive part of that win. I’m just learning every time I step out on the court when to show emotion, when not to.â€
Surprisingly, the Aussie was not scheduled to play on the center court of Rod Laver arena, instead relegated to the “people’s court†Hisense arena where ordinary Aussies with a ground pass could cheer on the greatest hope Australia has seen in 10 years. People queued for over 3 hours to get into the packed-to-capacity stadium, but they were not disappointed.
The crowd were deafening, with former world number one Jim Courier commentating in amazement saying “The crowd is jumping around like it’s a European football match.†After every point in the fourth set tie-breaker and in the final set they were on their feet jumping up and down, cheering Aussie chants, lifting the gifted 19 year old and inspiring him to dig even deeper.
“The fourth, I was definitely feeding off the crowd in the fourth, especially in the tiebreak it was massive. That was a momentum builder going into the fifth set. The crowd I thought played a massive part, yeah.â€
It’s been 10 years since an Australian has reached the quarter finals, where in 2005 Lleyton Hewitt lost in the final. However, Kyrgios will need to keep this win in check. After his victory over Nadal in the 4th round in Wimbledon in 2014, he was unable to back up his performance coming out flat and losing to Milos Raonic in the quarters. Kyrios now believes he has the experience to continue his euphoric run deep into the tournament.
“I think I’ll be pulling up better than I did at Wimbledon. I know what to expect now, now what I am going to be feeling, especially after a five-set match like that. I need to do everything I can: nutrition, get a good night’s rest tonight, do some mobility, get a hit out tomorrow.â€
“Yeah, I just got so much more confidence in my body now. You know, I was feeling fine. My legs were feeling really good towards the end of the fifth set. It’s massive confidence being 19 knowing that you can last matches like that. It’s massive.â€
Kyrgios will now take on 2 time grand slam winner Andy Murray. This will be some task for the youngster, with Murray in ominous form, looking fit and having the experience of reaching his 16th straight grand slam quarter final.
Can Nick learn from his short career and overcome the Scottsman to reach his first ever semi-final?
My head says no but my gut, my Aussie spirit says Yes – anything is possible with this kid!
C’mon!!!!
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Scoop Malinowski · January 26, 2015 at 2:46 pm
Australia has waited a long time for a champion to emerge, since Lleyton Hewitt’s heyday the drought has been over a decade. Tomic showed the highest potential but he (so far) has wasted his extraordinary talents like Mark Philippoussis. Now Kyrgios is here. And he’s letting everybody know it. Nick Kyrgios came. He saw. And you just know he’s going to conquer.
Dan markowitz · January 26, 2015 at 6:29 pm
Love Kyrgios, talent flair and cockiness all together. Reminds me of an Aussie Greek, Malaysian 19 yr old Johnny Mac. Scoop, is this the first hubby/wife coaching team with Davenport and Leach?
Andrew Miller · January 26, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Kyrgios does seem to have tailwinds.
LOUISE – hey, any chance to comment on the different birds that Aussie Open viewers hear on a live feed? I read that the French Open and Wimbledon also have birds (given their locations in parks) but the Australian Open’s wildlife seem to be a part of the matches!
Scoop Malinowski · January 26, 2015 at 8:28 pm
It has to be a first Dan, Leach/Davenport has to be a historical first. You gotta like Kyrgios, he brings swag to the sport. I met his brother at US Open two years ago and he told me about the match Nick had with Kyrgios vs. Stepanek at French Open. Step was down two sets and tried to bump into Nick on changeover. Didn’t bother Nick at all, Nick won in straight sets. Keep in mind Nick was just seventeen or eighteen then. Kyrgios is the real deal.
Martin G · January 26, 2015 at 8:58 pm
Kid has talent to give and some great wins in the past year.
Problem with attitude though. But many greats were like that when they were that young.
His draw to quarter at AO was too easy.
He didn’t beat a single seed player except
36 year old Karlovic.
Karlovic is tricky player (beat Djokovic in Doha) but
too old to trouble talented youngster under hot Australian sun in five sets match with shouting crowd.
Crowd plays big role here.
Many, many players don’t like to play like that.
Dan markowitz · January 26, 2015 at 9:54 pm
Step tried to give Kyrgios the Sprilea on a changeover? No, you must have that one wrong. Step would never do anything outside the etiquette rules to upset his opponent. Thinking of Step, where is he? Did he play Aussie O?
I like that word, Scoop, “swag.” I like his “hurry up Ive got better things to do” approach to playing. Tomic had that in him too, but Kyrgios is at a different higher level than Bernie.
Andrew Miller · January 26, 2015 at 11:01 pm
That is true about Kyrgios – have the sense that Australia will have a new slam champ and they may have two of them (remains to be seen which ones). Australia’s future is not just Kyrgios, Tomic and Kokkinakis – Australia has other players too that win junior slams. The country is a lot like France and Spain in terms of developing good players. For the most part, most of them are technically sound (in the Aussie tradition).
I think Craig Tiley has done a bang-up job as director of the Australian Open and Tennis Australia after having led the University of Illinois to the NCAA championship with Amer Delic. The South African is doing very well.
Andrew Miller · January 26, 2015 at 11:07 pm
EMAK d. Halep – I though EMAK would do this. She has gotten zero attention and beat Halep 6-4 6-0. EMAK always has the magic at the Australian.
Sharapova d. Bouchard 6-3 6-2 in 78 minutes. Thought this would happen too.
Andrew Miller · January 27, 2015 at 12:42 am
NO ONE BEATS BERDYCH 18 TIMES IN A ROW!
Gaurang · January 27, 2015 at 1:06 am
Stunning match by Berdych. I saw only some games at the tail end of the match. But what I saw let me impressed. I have never seen Berdych play so well. He had a clear mind — he was able to find just the right shots — and hit them cleanly even if they were difficult. He was building points perfectly. He was hitting winners easily and making hard shots look easy!
He basically destroyed Rafa today. The commentators said Rafa did not play the first 2 sets well, but he was playing his game in the 3rd, and still Berdych defeated him.
Whats happened to Berdych? Is it his engagement? Is it his new coach?
If he plays like this, he can routinely trouble the big guys.
Andrew Miller · January 27, 2015 at 2:13 am
Agree – Berdych is playing sharp! Seems to be stepping in, taking the ball a little earlier? He re-grouped well and focused on nearly every ball. I think he was concentrating very well – he rarely took his eye off the ball. Even after a bad shot he’d re-group the next one and stay with the shot.
Says he’s listening to his team – I’d guess yeah, the big personal news and engagement to his fiance add to it also. It will be an interesting semifinal.
Dan markowitz · January 27, 2015 at 2:31 am
Yes but he never beats Djoko. Never.
Gaurang · January 27, 2015 at 2:36 am
Regarding Kyrgios, I have always considered him a future superstar. Ever since I saw him beat Klahn in a challenger about 1 and a half years ago, when he was ranked #191, I have been saying he will reach top 20 in 2 years (that means, he needs to get to top 20 by Oct 2015), and that he will reach top 3 in 5 years (i.e. by Oct 2018).
I am still holding on to my prediction 🙂
Gaurang · January 27, 2015 at 2:36 am
Scoop, by the way, thanks for sending the Facing Federer book!
Gaurang · January 27, 2015 at 2:37 am
Its a nice one and I am enjoying reading it. Really appreciate you sending it … All the best for your future books!
loreley · January 27, 2015 at 3:10 am
I’m not surprised that Berdych defeated Rafa. It’s not that Berdych turned into a new player. Like I said, the conditions are fast.
Dan markowitz · January 27, 2015 at 6:52 am
Yes but if the conditions were so fast how come Fed bombed out to Seppi? Hadn’t we heard how Fed would’ve won more than 20 slams of the courts were faster? Not having seen the match, as scarlet Macaws fly over my head here in Costa Rica, I’ve got to think that Rafa is either shot as a Top 3 player or just hasn’t fully gotten his mojo back. I mean you don’t lose 2 and love to a guy you’ve beaten 17 straight if you’re playing you’re game.
Scoop Malinowski · January 27, 2015 at 8:33 am
The real reason why Berdych is playing his best…he took off his hat. No, seriously, maybe it really is the engagement to Esther who I met in Miami and she is really really a nice person. And or Berdych is a Petr Korda late bloomer just waiting for his one fortnight to finally show his greatness. Berdych probably figures, Stan had his itme last year, now this year is MY year. But, the SF and F will only get harder for him.
Scoop Malinowski · January 27, 2015 at 8:34 am
Gaurang, thank you for helping us with the technical issues of the site, happy to hear you are enjoying the book.
loreley · January 27, 2015 at 8:40 am
The match between Federer & Seppi was pretty tight. 2 tiebreaks. Federer said that the faster conditions helped Seppi’s serve 😉
Scoop Malinowski · January 27, 2015 at 9:33 am
Fed did not adapt to the faster conditions? 🙂
Dan markowitz · January 27, 2015 at 11:48 am
Berdman has been a much more solid player throughout his career than Stan when he broke through to win his slam. He’s been to a slam finals, but this the “business end” of a slam where Tom tends to get exposed, particularly his movement. I can’t see him beating Muuray, Kei or Djoko. Impossible. You telling me Esther or Dani will put Berdy over the top of that trio?
Andrew Miller · January 27, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Murray-Berdych should be a good match: both guys proposed to their girlfriends so they both have something to play for. Wawrinka said the same thing about Berd that Dan did – that he plays hard in the biggest matches but blinks. I didn’t see him blink yesterday so that could bode well. He also seems to be scouting better,
and who better to turn to than Murray’s former trainer/co-coach, who is Berdych’s head coach? This will be good advice for Berdych and Berdych, seeing his results against Nadal, is going to listen to Vallverdu again for the Murray match and execute the strategy. You could tell out there that Berdych kept going back to the game plan against Nadal, even as Nadal upped his game. Agassi said sometimes it’s a matter of X and O out there and lining up your strategy and executing. Berdych did that and you gotta like his chances against Moody Murray!
Scoop Malinowski · January 27, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Andrew, Murray made a good point about Vallverdu: He said he knows how Vallverdu feels about Berdych’s game too.
Andrew Miller · January 27, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Scoop, should be a good match. Murray is a good thinker out there and he’ll have to counter a well executed strategy and disrupt it somehow, make Berdych play his “Plan B”. Berdych did a nice job in sticking with an effective strategy – if the match had gone longer, it’s not clear if he would have sustained it. He got out of the match in the nick of time – Nadal was gathering plenty of steam but kept making the errors.
Murray’s good enough to force a player into their Plan B, no fun for any opponent. We’ll see in this BATTLE OF THE FIANCES!