MELBOURNE, Australia – If Friday night is the last time we see fans at the Australian Open in 2021, Nick Kyrgios and world number 3 Dominic Thiem have not disappointed, providing John Cain Arena’s vocal audience with a memorable evening Grand Slam tennis, which featured multiple code violations, exciting sportsmanship, a hit or two with the chairman, and some jaw-dropping play.
The 5th in Melbourne Park was thrown into absolute chaos when Victorian premier Daniel Andrews announced that the state would be put on an instant five-day blockade to deal with a growing COVID-19 cluster in the city’s suburbs. The implications for the Australian Open were simple: without fans for at least five days, and players would be placed in a “COVID bubble” until it was safe to ease the restrictions.
The Stage 4 blockade and return restrictions were scheduled to start at 11:59 pm local time on Friday (7:59 am ET) and, as a result, anxiety has settled in the city. Toilet paper has once again become a hot commodity, as supermarkets have been forced to deal with mass shopping panic ahead of time, while others have struggled to get last-minute conversations with family and friends.
But before Victoria’s blockade started, Thiem fought back from two sets to beat Kyrgios 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and secure a place in the last 16 at the Australia for the fourth time in five years.
“With today’s announcements about the blockade, it seemed like the last breath,” said Kyrgios. “The energy out there with the crowd was really special.”
Those in Melbourne Park who had bought tickets for the tournament’s hottest tennis match so far weren’t going anywhere. Kyrgios, on his favorite court in the world, didn’t wait long to give fans something to celebrate, breaking the United States Open champion in the opening game and channeling his interior Lleyton Hewitt with a roar of “Vamos”, aimed at the crowd.
Kyrgios’ intensity, which at times during his career was questionable, was simply impeccable at first. He stayed on top with his powerful serve and hunted down all the balls during Thiem’s service games, increasing the pressure on last year’s Australian Open runner-up.
With 4-4 in the second set, Kyrgios broke Thiem for the second time in the match, and after holding the serve in the next game by a two-set lead to love, left the court with open arms.
But sometimes a bad time causes Kyrgios to lose concentration. That’s exactly what seemed to happen when Thiem broke in the second game of the third set, which Thiem took in 33 minutes. Kyrgios received a code violation for visible obscenity after leaving the game and started to shake his head in frustration. He scolded himself throughout the set, bizarrely, it was like he was chasing any kind of negative energy.
Of course, it would not have been Kyrgio’s appearance in a Slam without some conversation addressed to the chairman. After Damien Dumusois penalized Kyrgios for offside in the fourth set, Kyrgios replied: “So [Victoria] Azerenka’s grunt is fine, but not well.
The scene was frighteningly reminiscent of Kyrgios’ second round match against Italian Andreas Seppi at the 2017 Australian Open. At that time, also at John Cain Arena, Kyrgios imploded and exploded the advantage of two sets.
But this was a different Kyrgios. A Kyrgios who grew and matured a lot since that defeat to Seppi, and who praised Thiem during the competition, often muttering “very good” and “well played” whenever a winner was hit on the other side of the court, and at one point labeled one Thiem’s backhand below the line as “ridiculous”.
“He is the third best player in the world for a reason, and I am there and I believe in myself,” said Kyrgios. “I knew that today I had an absolute chance to fight and I entered this match with the expectation of winning. I am very proud of everything I have done in the last few months to prepare for this.”
With a fifth set imminent, fans in the arena and dozens of others huddled in Garden Square watching on the big screen were starting to look at their watches and phones, trying to figure out how they would complete their journey home before Stage 4 restrictions began.
At Rod Laver Arena, while world number 1 Novak Djokovic was fighting an exciting battle against American Taylor Fritz, messages to leave the venue were transmitted via the PA system. Tennis Australia was not responsible for any fines imposed by the Victoria Police on those who remained outside after the recently imposed curfew.
But no one dared to change his seat at the John Cain Arena, and support for a brave Kyrgios spilled – until Thiem hit an impressive backhand on the line to secure a match point and mark his ticket for the fourth round.
“As soon as I lost, I wasn’t upset. I was smiling,” said Kyrgios. “He is a great player and has worked hard. I’m happy for him.
“I’m at a point in my career where, if I lose, I get furious and I don’t complain, you know. He played really well,” said Kyrgios after the match. “I have a big heart and I am very proud of what I have achieved.”
Thiem’s return should not be underestimated. The Austrian remained calm during the competition and never looked disturbed, despite losing two sets in 90 minutes. He not only had to fight Kyrgios, but also a vocal crowd rooting for his man all the time.
“I was dealing with defeat, but fighting against myself. Giving up is not an option,” said Thiem after the match. “When I got the clearance in the third set, I realized that there was a chance to change that, and the longer the game got, the more comfortable I felt. This was a good last game before the block.”