What a victory
Andreas Seppi is talking to Jim Courier now. How did he do it? “Maybe it was meant to be. It’s as good a theory as any to explain Kyrgios perplexing stumble, from two sets to love up, and pounding his first serve well into the third. Before deciding to start an ongoing stoush with his coaches box.
The forehand down the line to win? “It was a big shot at an important moment.” Too right. As I said before, a lot will be (rightly) made of what happened with Kyrgios tonight, but Seppi had every right to give it away after that second set tie-break. Blown off the court, two sets down. All the hard work of that set counting for nothing.
But he kept with it. The foundation was laid in the early games of that third set where his serving, far from falling away from the high standards of the second set, got better again. When Kyrgios couldn’t break through, the capitulation began. First the altercation with the box. Then the break. Then the broken racquet. Then the code violation. Then the set.
The fourth? Much the same, as the Australian looked uninterested at best after losing his first service game. Generously, it could be said he was preserving energy for the deciding set. But that really is being generous given the body language that complemented the shot selection.
As the fifth set got deeper and deeper, Kyrgios looked the more likely to prevail, even after allowing Seppi to once serve for the set at 5-4. He regained patience. Started making first serves again with far greater regularity. Nabbed some cheap points, even some cheap service games. But he never got the second break.
He came tremendously close, at 7-8, even getting a match point. But Seppi again clung on. Next game? He broke the Australian. He then served it out. He wasn’t going to let that opportunity pass him by a second time, not after losing to his opponent at the same tournament - and same court - after being two sets up.
And that’s gotta be it. An enthralling night of tennis. A fascinating Australian; the best and worst of him all within those three and a half hours. You can only hope he’ll be better for it. A gutsy Italian, who earned his third round spot times over. Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for your company.
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ANDREAS SEPPI DEFEATS NICK KYRGIOS 10-8 IN THE FIFTH!
Fifth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 8-10 Seppi* (*denotes server). At 15-all Kyrgios misseD his forehand, hitting the frame and travelling deep into the crowd. At this point, he knew. Or he looked resigned to it at least. A Seppi ace did the rest. What a proud victory. I’ll be back in a moment to try and make sense of the mayhem that has been the last three and half hours.
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Fifth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 8-9 Seppi (*denotes server). For the second time SEPPI WILL SERVE FOR THE MATCH. His first serve eluding him in that crucial service game, coming after the drama of a broken string, Kyrgios had a shocker. In keeping with that messy theme: he gave away the break with a double fault. Maybe it wasn’t destined to be so?
Fifth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 8-8 Seppi* (*denotes server). How do you adequately describe that? Seppi winners, net cords, a double fault, winners from Kyrgios after forcing the Italian deep into the court with utmost discipline. Big serves after a match point, following the long rally to deny the victory for the 14th seed. You want more? Grab it on youtube later. In short: utterly ridiculous. Want to go behind the fourth wall? I’d already written two pars wrapping up the game assuming Kyrgios had it. Should have known better. Was never going to be that easy.
Fifth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 8-7 Seppi (*denotes server). Huge serve from Kyrgios to hold from 40-30, the volley he put away at 40-15 just as important after an error let Seppi into the game. Who now, ruthless as this is, will serve again to stay in the Australian Open.
He's so good to watch, so loose. Making it up on the run. #Kyrgios
— Matt Harrison (@theHtrain23) January 18, 2017
Fifth set:Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 7-7 Seppi* (*denotes server). Oh where was that fluent serve when he was serving for the match? They’re saying it on TV, people are saying on twitter, it’s what’s people are saying in living rooms from coast to coast, whether they love Our Nick or hate him. That was a tremendous service game under pressure from the Italian, who has been utterly superb in sticking fat when lesser players would have capitulated, knowing he just had to stay with Kyrgios. He did. He created this opportunity as much as the Australian, who now serves at 7-all, has blown it. Or maybe not. It’s that kind of match. All will be forgiven (well, maybe not all) if he just can find a way to get it together for ten more minutes. The pressure sits with him.
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Fifth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 Seppi (*denotes server). Oh how Seppi may live to hurt over the opportunity he just threw away to serve this game out. The Australian holds at 6-all, to love. Just like it was in the good old says, when Kyrgios had this under control, when he was smiling, when he was urging the ball to do what he wanted, when he was winding up big. None of that, now. The ace win the game is emphatic, though. The Italian, unbelievably almost, now the one serving to stay in the match.
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Fifth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 6-6 Seppi* (*denotes server). Kyrgios BREAKS BACK!!!!! What is going on? Defending to stay in the tournament and Kyrgios has rolled a mid-rally between the legs effort. Somehow it lands, he wins the point. Then, showing patience that belies the earlier shot, hangs tough in a rally to convert that to 15-40. And an unforced error from Seppi - so rare from him of late - puts the two back on parity. Of course, no tie break in the fifth, so this could go a while. Exhausting tennis.
Fifth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 5-6 Seppi (*denotes server). That is HUGE from Seppi, getting himself a couple of break points and converting at 30-40 with a forehand he just reached, the going back at double-speed to Kyrgios, who lets it go. But it isn’t long! The Italian now gets his chance to serve for the match! Earlier in the game at the net together at 0-15 and Kyrgios missed, coming after a double fault as well, and he’s down to 0-30. A forehand missed makes that 15-40 shortly thereafter. But he finds a huge serve, 206kph, to get out of the first one, but not the second.
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Fifth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 5-5 Seppi* (*denotes server). An error opens up 0-15 for Kyrgios, and he’s well in the excellent rally that follows, but given a chance to take a swipe crosscourt with a forehand, he just misses. The game slips away quickly after the Italian steps up under pressure. Again. So much about the Australian’s night, but Seppi has been absolutely outstanding in the toughest moments tonight. Fair play.
Fifth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 5-4 Seppi (*denotes server). “Your idea as well,” roars Kyrgios at his box after losing a point at 30-0. What’s he do next? Serves it out. Huge ace down the middle at 40-15. It’s like the Australian is at once preparing to win this game and also savage someone - everyone - in the post-loss press conference. These emotions fluctuating not only game to game, but almost point to point. You can’t look away from this bloke. Seppi, now, to serve to stay in the match. “I’ve never looked forward more to a post-match interview from Jim Courier,” says the TV host. Not wrong.
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Fifth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 4-4 Seppi* (*denotes server). So cool from Seppi! Kyrgios opened up this match for the taking with some superb rally patience - sorely missing for so long - to get it out to 0-30. Then a a blistering winner to a limp second serve give him three break points. The Italian responded with five points on the bounce to take the game at the first deuce. Wow. From serving for the match if he converts any of those the Australian, to now the pressure lumped right back on him after the missed opportunities.
Fifth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 4-3 Seppi (*denotes server). To 30-love when Seppi cannot return another Kyrgios bullet from the service line. Another big serve is returned long, then another sprays wide. Okay, he’s back in business? In between times, he encouraged Seppi to review a line-call that went the way of the Australian. All happening.
This isn't a set it's a plebiscite.#Kyrgios #AusOpen
— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) January 18, 2017
Fifth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 3-3 Seppi* (*denotes server). A rapid crosscourt backhand winner returning serve gets Kyrgios to 15-all and a chance. The a net cord goes the way of the Italian! The crowd boo. “I’ve never heard the net-cord get booed before,” says Jim Courier. “It’s our Grand Slam” responds Lleyton. Strong. From here, Seppi holds with relative ease, landing his first serves at 30-15 and 40-15.
Fifth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 3-2 Seppi* (*denotes server). Kyrgios holds to love! There’s something that wouldn’t have rated a mention in the second or third sets a these two did that with regularity, especially the Australian. So, a good sign. A pair of aces in the middle of game can only help. The crowd are certainly with him here.
Fifth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 2-2 Seppi* (*denotes server). A chance created to start here, Seppi into the net after Kyrgios pushed him deep into the court. But the good work is undone at 15-all when he chances his hand at another low percentage backhand down the line. The evidence of the opening sets of this game would be that he just doesn’t need to do that; the Australian was winning pretty much every lengthy rally. And it happens again as Seppi serves, Kyrgios missing a volley to give up the game.
Fifth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 2-1 Seppi (*denotes server). “He is still serving big enough,” says Hewitt, as Kyrgios lands two huge serves, including an ace out wide, to secure a quick service game. First of those he has had for a long while. Can be build from it? Change of ends. Chill out, Nick. Chill out.
Kyrgios just said "I can't push through" - the kid needs a coach urgently. Won't win a Grand Slam without one.
— Corey Norris (@coreynorris9) January 18, 2017
Fifth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 1-1 Seppi* (*denotes server). Seppi holds to love, beating Kyrios’ forehand with a blistering winner. The Australian hits into the net. So we’re on serve early. Pressure back onto Kyrgios, who is serving first.
Fifth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6, 1-0 Seppi (*denotes server). Huge roar from the Melbourne crowd as Kyrgios wins the first point. Soon enough he’s back to 30-all, but an ace earns him game point. He does the rest with another big serve. That’s more like it. As the TV callers are reminding us, these two played out a five set marathon (always a marathon, right?) in 2015 after it was Kyrgios coming back from two-sets down to eventually win.
ANDREAS SEPPI WINS THE FOURTH SET 6-2! WE'RE OFF TO A FIFTH SET!
Fourth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6 Seppi* (*denotes server). Limited resistance from Kyrgios, allowing Seppi to serve the set out to love. Appropriately, he finished it off with an ace. He’ll go into this deciding set with enormous confidence, as this match enters a third hour. Kyrgios’ original meltd0wn - way back in the third set when he was on serve and broadly flying two-sets up - had something to do with his preparation/fitness, according to the TV call. How will this effect the final set? Tune in. This could really be something.
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Fourth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 2-5 Seppi (*denotes server). This is a stunning turnaround. “It is amazing how quickly this can go from so much fun to so much misery,” says Courier of Kyrgios, as he allows another service game gets taken to deuce, three times in the end. He serves his way out of it at the death, forcing Seppi into the net twice with returns. Who will serve for the set after the change of ends.
Fourth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 1-5 Seppi* (*denotes server). Kyrgios will now be serving to stay in the set, if that’s even what he fancies, after another easy Seppi hold. “He does not look interested in trying to break serve here,” says Courier again, as Seppi beats him with a crosscourt forehand - as though we’re in slow motion. The Italian then opens up the court, to 40-0 with a backhand winner. Too easy.
Fourth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 1-4 Seppi (*denotes server). Slow down, is the advice of Courier on the call to Kyrgios. “But he’s doing just the opposite,” and in the process has given up a double break! From deuce came the double fault, and perhaps just as predictably, the loose attempted winner early in the rally down the line with the backhand, missing by a decent margin. Maybe he’s given up in the set and has already moved on mentally to what he has to do in the fifth? He’ll be there shortly.
Fourth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 1-3 Seppi* (*denotes server). Seppi skips out to 40-0 before Kyrigos gets a point back when the Italian can’t get it over the net. But he finishes it with an ace for what’s still a conventional, easy hold. Three more of those and we’re into a fifth set. Nothing to suggest that won’t be the case now. Kyrgios unrecognisable from an hour ago.
Fourth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 1-2 Seppi (*denotes server) “He’s played Seppi into form,” says Hewitt on the commentary, which feels about right as he takes two more points from Kyrigos’ serve, including a lovely backhand winner to take it to 40-30. That’s where the resistance ends, hitting long after Kyrigos challenged him at the net, but they are two more points than he was taking from the Australians serve at this time in the previous set, or the one before it for that matter.
Fourth set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 0-2 Seppi* (*denotes server): He is hard held, winning the game point at 40-30, but Seppi won’t mind in the slightest with the volume of Kyrgios errors now coming. He’s been around long enough to know that the volatile Australian is on the cusp of completely losing the plot here, if he hasn’t already.
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Fourth set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 0-1 Seppi (*denotes server): Seppi is growing in confidence by the minute here, breaking Kyrigos in the opening game of the set. What is going on here? He’s in absolute meltdown mode here, missing a very low percentage off-forehand at 30-40. Hewitt says it best: “If he could have just knuckled down, he would be in there preparing for his third round match by now.” Now? Provided Seppi can hold his serve - and he’s really done that with ease over the last couple of sets - then we’ll be seeing a fifth set. Far from ideal.
ANDREAS SEPPI WINS THE THIRD SET! KYRGIOS LEADS 6-1, 7-6, 4-6
Third set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-6 Seppi* (*denotes server): Well. Where that did come from? They were racing through that set on serve with Kyrgios in relative cruise control. Indeed, when Seppi missed a half-chance in the seventh game, he looked the more likely to drop his bundle. Far from it, the Australian really losing his way. He was pinged a point to begin that tenth game for breaking his racquet after being broken himself in the ninth, Seppi doing the rest. Has to settle here, Kyrgios.
Third set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-5 Seppi (*denotes server): Wow, what a winner from Seppi, he’s broken Kyrgios who has immediately broken a racquet! All happening now. This little implosion was on the cards for the last ten minutes after the Australians altercation with the playing box. He gave Seppi the break point at 30-40 after missing a backhand and then was down to his second serve, the Italian having a pop at a crosscourt forehand going the unorthodox direction and went and nailed it! Full points for guts. He’ll serve for the set. Game on.
Third set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-4 Seppi* (*denotes server): Seppi’s crosscourt backhand hits a net cord, floating out to give Kyrgios a chance at 30-15. But he misses wide himself, make that 40-15. The Italian does the rest, opening up the court with a big serve for a passing straightforward forehand to take the game. On serve we remain.
Third set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 4-3 Seppi (*denotes server): There was an opening for Seppi here as Kyrgios just getting a bit unpleased with the world. After skipping out to 40-0, there’s a pair of double faults. But as it has been all night, the moment the Australian has any sign of trouble he serves his way out of it, landing a big one and finishing it off with a forehand winner. The suggestion from the commentary team on TV is that his general unhappiness is about his fitness regime. Or something like that. Sure we’ll find out at the press conference.
Third set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 3-3 Seppi* (*denotes server): Seppi misses a first serve then Kyrgios pushes the second into the net. Nick isn’t happy, having a word to his support box perhaps? Seppi brings him to the net with a delicate drop shot and wins the next point. Kyrgios has another crack. “Code violation,” announces the hair. Presumably the swearing. Probably the swearing. Seppi closes out the game.
Third set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 3-2 Seppi (*denotes server): 30-all, big point for Seppi. The biggest of the set for him to date; a chance on Kyrgios’ serve at last. But he can’t stay in the rally, popping in a forehand into the net. Not much pressure on him there either with the shot that he was responding to. From 40-30 Kyrgios closes it out, coming to the net and forcing the Italian into something special, and he misses the backhand long. That’ll hurt.
Third set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 2-2 Seppi* (*denotes server): Four games in what, nine minutes here in the third? To be fair, Kyrgios did manage to strangle a couple of points off-serve on this occasion, admirable in the circumstances, once getting into these points after Seppi missed first serves. But the Italian finished it off with a forehand winner to keep us on serve.
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Third set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 2-1 Seppi (*denotes server): What do you know? Another service game to love. We’re yet to see a point off-serve - let alone a game - in this set. The Australian forced three errors on the Italians backhand, so it is pretty clear when he’s focussing his attention. And that stands to reason; he’s a much bigger threat on the forehand so far this evening. Keep it simple.
Third set: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 1-1 Seppi* (*denotes server): Another service game to love, this time Seppi. Neither missing first serves here, a carbon copy of the second set. Rapid.
Third set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6, 0-1 Seppi (*denotes server): Jim Courier talking about a shot that Seppi dunked to eliminate Roger Federer from the Australian Open in 2015. Would be rude not to dig it out, as he says it is “readily available on the internet” and I believe everything the two-time champ says when he has a mic in front of him. You win that sort of trust from me if you jump in the Yarra with such conviction. Kyrgios, meanwhile, won his opening service came of the third set to love.
NICK KYRGIOS WINS THE SECOND SET 7-6. LEADS 6-1, 7-6.
Second set tie break: Kyrgios 6-1, 7-6 (7-1) Seppi. Just about the perfect tie-break from Kyrgios. Huge on serve, the hunter when receiving. The mini-break came immediately after a rare rally. Seppi saw a chance at 0-2 to break back down the line with a backhand, but missed. Next up with a double fault he was reeling at 0-4. But the shot of the tie-break was when Our Nick launched into a half-swing backhand drive, with wonderful timing and placement. “A lot easier to do when you are a double-mini break up,” observed Hewitt. Fair enough. He finishes off the set with a big, swinging serve out wide then showing patience in a rally on set point, the Italian hitting into the net. You don’t see many sets go 13 games (with a tie-break) and all over in 42 minutes.
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Second set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 6-6 Seppi (*denotes server): We’re off to a tie-break. Serve too big for Seppi to make meaningful returns. “His record in tie-breaks is extraordinary,” says Hewitt of Kyrgios. Let’s see.
Second set: Kyrgios 6-1, 5-6 Seppi* (*denotes server): That makes 11 games on serve in the space of 28 minutes. Rapid. Won’t somebody please think about the person trying to game-by-game this? Fellas? Anyway, true to form, Seppi again wins it to love, using every one of his 190cm to generate the pace required to land two aces to finish the game. His serve was a circus to begin with, but just as effective as Kyrgios’ now. Who will be serving to take this to a tie-break in just a jiffy.
Second set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 5-5 Seppi (*denotes server): After a glass of water or an energy drink or a banana or whatever it is they do at change of ends, Kyrgios is back with new balls at his disposal. And he needs a hand after getting into a bit of strife here, down 15-30 after missing long. “This is usually when Nick is so good, bringing out the big serve when he needs it,” says Hewitt on the TV. And he’s absolutely on the money, Kyrgios landing a 209kph bullet down the middle, then getting out of trouble with a powerful forehand that Seppi cannot return. Not for nothing that he was serving to stay in the set then as well.
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Second set: Kyrgios 6-1, 4-5 Seppi* (*denotes server): Kyrgios gets a chance at 15-all, but clobbers his crosscourt forehand wide. A dinky backhand also misses at 30-15, with the Italian finishing off the game with an ace down the middle. He’s fought back really well in this set.
@collinsadam We had a comp before the 06 FIFAWC to invent new chants, and people still used "Aussie Aussie Aussie"... Not our strong point.
— Anthony Condon (@AnthCondon) January 18, 2017
Second set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 4-4 Seppi (*denotes server): Keep that out, says Nick, when serving out wide at 30-15. “A bomb,” says Hewitt on the commentary. “Must be hard when he’s got himself into a game with a chance he gets that.” Sure enough, Kyrgios does the rest, turning the screws in a rally and waiting for the error, coming on the backhand into the net. Still on serve after eight games.
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Second set: Kyrgios 6-1, 3-4 Seppi* (*denotes server): Seppi has barely lost a point on serve in this set. Maybe one? He wins this seventh game of the set to love, via a forehand winner after forcing Kyrgios into a trio of errors off the serve to begin the game.
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Second set: Kyrgios *6-1, 3-3 Seppi (*denotes server): “Let’s go Kyrgios, let’s go!” chant the crowd as the Australian ties up the set at three apiece. We do a lot of things well in Australia, but chanting really isn’t one of them. It actually required a trip to deuce before getting the game, via a forehand error at the end of a rally at advantage. Yes, a rally. Novel. Haven’t had of those for a while. The game also included a gorgeous ace that shaped away down the T like a Damien Fleming outswinger, and one out wide that Seppi seemed to lose in the crowd.
Second set: Kyrgios 6-1, 2-3 Seppi* (*denotes server): Seppi’s turn for a 60 second service game. This set is rapid. A backhand into the net from Kyrgios cedes the game, to love, after the Italian blasted consecutive aces. It’s been that kind of set. The change of ends are taking longer than the games themselves.
Second set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 2-2 Seppi (*denotes server): Lleyton Hewitt is onto the local TV call now, which is a great result for those Australians watching at home. He’s very, very good at this. Kyrigos closes out his service game without conceding a point. From 30-0 he landed two big serves, an ace and then one down the middle that Seppi wouldn’t get back effectively had he attempted it 10 times.
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Second set: Kyrgios 6-1, 1-2 Seppi* (*denotes server): Another two minute game. Quick game is a good game and all that. Nice little volley on the backhand from Seppi to take him to 40-15, profiting from errors on both the forehand and backhand earlier in the game.
Being The Guardian, we are live blog central from Melbourne Park at the moment. Do open a new tab to keep an eye on what Jacob Steinberg has going on. In short: plenty.
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Second set: *Kyrgios 6-1, 1-1 Seppi (*denotes server): Kyrgios does exactly as Seppi did before him, winning his opening service game of the second set to love. It’s a simple game this: he lands his first serve, he wins the point. And in that game, he landed them all, including another ace.
Second set: Kyrgios 6-1, 0-1 Seppi* (*denotes server): That’ll be a relief for Seppi, an easy service game to get underway, landing all his first serves then whacking an ace of his own. Wins it to love. Will need a few of them to put any pressure back onto the Australian early in this second set.
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NICK KYRGIOS WINS THE FIRST SET 6-1
First set: *Kyrgios 6-1 Seppi (*denotes server): Oh, what a clinical way to finish the set with a forehand passing shot after confidently striding to the net to address a short Seppi forehand. And as an Australian I’m preconditioned to really enjoy the serve-volley he pulled off earlier in the game. A joy to watch that set, as Kyrgios talked to the ball, willed it where he wanted it, loaded up for huge forehands and struck like a marksman with that double backhand. An even half-hour for the set.
First set: Kyrgios 5-1* Seppi (*denotes server): It took four attempts points, but Kyrgios has a double break and will serve for the set after this change of ends. Seppi perhaps suffered from the letdown of not making any of his own three break points in the previous game, slipping to 0-30 then 30-40. He missed a bad forehand from close range, then wasn’t up to the task from the back of the court on a couple of occasions when the Australian put him under constant pressure in longer rallies. Kyrgios saved his worst points for when he had the chance to break, stumbling with a dinky slice backhand, but composed himself to land a backhand winner at the fourth deuce.
First set: *Kyrgios 4-1 Seppi (*denotes server): From 0-40 - beaten at the net, then with a passing forehand, Kyrgios won five points on the spin. That’s certainly one way to get out of trouble on serve. How’d he do it? By landing every first serve. Hard to get those back, four of those five points won without the Australian needing to play another shot.
First set: Kyrgios 3-1 Seppi* (*denotes server): Kyrgios fancies his chances at 30-15 with a low-percentage crosscourt backhand, falling just out. Seppi requires a couple of game points from there to get on the board, but does with a lovely passing shot on the forehand down the line. That’s better. The biggest cheer of the game was when one of the ball kids caught a serve with one hand. If he wants to stand at first slip in my cricket team, he’s welcome.
First set: *Kyrgios 3-0 Seppi (*denotes server): Harder held in his second time at the service line. A far scrappier game, but consolidated the break. Taken the deuce a couple of times, the Australian’s polish showed in the end with a crosshand forehand winner to get out of strife when down a break-back point, before two precise aces - hitting the line down the middle then out wide - to round out the game.
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First set: Kyrgios 2-0 Seppi* (*denotes server): What a contrast to Seppi, who has been broken to love by Kyrgios in his opening service game. Relentless from the Australia, yet to drop a point. A forehand winner to begin the game after a long rally set the tone, inspiring three unforced errors on the trot. What a start.
@collinsadam Kyrgios has the advantage of being able to play aggressive all tournament and blame his knee when he eventually gets beaten
— Matt Nicholls (@mattnicholls29) January 18, 2017
First set: Kyrgios* 1-0 Seppi (*denotes server): Have. A bit. Of that. Ace to 15. The most deft drop shot to 30. Huge serve down the middle to 40. Wide ace to game, inside a minute. Wow. Kyrgios has rocked up.
Seppi has won the toss.
He’ll receive. That’s bold.
As the hit up begins, let’s get the blood pumping with a bit of this.
Welcome to Nick Kyrgios.... live
Good evening if you are, like me, enjoying this delightful Melbourne evening. Morning to those waking up in Britain, Italy or anywhere in between.
I say Italy, because that is where Andreas Seppi calls home, the journeyman who has the unviable task of taking on local boy Nick Kyrgios in about 10 minutes from now if the TV is to be believed.
The Australian world No14 waltzed through his opening round match on Monday losing just five games across the three sets and 84 minutes he was required on court. His biggest threat in that opening fixture was a nosebleed between sets. Seriously.
It was an imposing effort, his raking forehand a timely reminder of his presence after an odd 2016. Odd for the Shanghai meltdown, banned for eight weeks after being pinged for giving up. It didn’t help his reputation at home or away; he continues to be a big target. Yet he still won three tour events and got up to No13 in the world.
Most of the questions coming his way after the opening round related to Roger Federer’s pre-tournament interview comments, saying that he didn’t think the 21-year-old was quite ready to win a Slam. His response? Measured. “I know he’s the greatest of all time. I know I just want to do my own thing,” he said.
But he’s still confident. And why wouldn’t he be, having knocked off six of the top seeds at this tournament? “I think I can win it. I’ve beaten pretty much everyone in the draw before.”
To be fair, he’s due to show it on the big stage. Last year Kyrgios didn’t get beyond the fourth round at a major (Wimbledon), bundled out in the third at the other three. His best result at Melbourne is a quarter final in 2015.
It was in that campaign that he last played Seppi, and it was his most memorable outing at Melbourne Park, coming back from two sets down to get over the line. He saw off a match point that day too.
Seppi, now 32 years old, is no jobber, despite coming in with a ranking of 89, having gotten out to triple digits in a poor 2016. It wasn’t that long ago - 2013 - when he was in the world top 20. Although he has been a routine struggler at majors, never making the final eight in 16 years on the tour.
Alright. There’s the context. The players are in the tunnel and ready to walk out on the Hisense Arena (promise that’s the only time I’ll call it that) in the eastern corner of the complex.
It has been 41 years since Mark Edmondson was the last Australian to win this tournament. Could we be seeing the early stages of something special? As always with Kyrgios, it’ll be worth having a look. I look forward to your company. Drop me at line: Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com or @collinsadam.
Updated
Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a reminder of how Australia’s No1 fared in his first outing at Melbourne Park this year:
