There is nothing in the world, not even close to watching Nick Kyrgios playing at John Cain Arena.
In three and a half hours, captivating, frantic and sometimes ridiculous, Kyrgios saved two match points, went ballistically twice to the network cable and even called the referee Marijana Veljovic “brother”.
But in the end, he arguably recorded his most impressive victory at the Australian Open, dropping Ugo Humbert, the 29th seed, in an incredible 5-set, 5-7, 6-4 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The arena, no more than half full due to restrictions on Open participation, was rocked, with volume levels different from previous years. For a short period of several hours, the pandemic was almost forgotten while Kyrgios – in his castle – held a show worthy of a king.
However, it did not get in his way. At the start of the match, Kyrgios found himself frustrated and distracted by what appeared to be a faulty automatic network cable, which, it is believed, the Australian, robbed him and Humbert of a number of aces.
“Turn it off. [Umbert’s] service missed so much, “Kyrgios told Veljovic in the first set, gesturing a six-inch distance with his hands.
“It simply came to our notice then. Do you understand him? You don’t understand him. It ruins the game. How do you understand him?
“Stop him, brother. He’s so big on the net. I don’t play until you stop him. Even for his service he’s here. It’s not just my service.”
Although he threatened not to play a role in the match, only one set in the competition, Kyrgios continued – but he seemed trembling and sometimes disinterested.
Humbert won the first set, but Kyrgios quickly hit to take the second. The crowd was willing to enter the match.
But the 22-year-old Frenchman should not be inferior; he began to overtake Kyrgios, whose attention was waning. Humbert won the third set and took a break in the fourth, and even the favorite at home did not see a way out.
“I’m done, I’m done,” Kyrgios muttered after a point in the set.
But as Kyrgios seems to be doing at his favorite stadium, he has found another level. With his back to the wall at 4-5 and Humbert serving for the match, the Australian eliminated an incredible return game during which Humbert faced two match points. Ironically, Kyrgios secured the break back to 5-5 by brushing the net with a right hand that landed a great distance from Humbert’s outstretched arm.
Kyrgios gave himself a smile and since then the noise of the crowd has barely subsided under a boring roar. The broadcast cameras were shaking, with no way to establish themselves on a ground-level photo.
The monster John Cain had woken up.
In scenes that would make tennis purists touch the mute button, the crowd would simply not settle. There were lively discussions between the first and second service, Humbert’s mistakes were applauded and the umpire was forced to intervene constantly.
Kyrgios was beating her. It is what makes the arena such a difficult place for his opponents to play. It is an unaltered experience to the point where even Kyrgios escapes with a few explorations at the fingertips of the referee Veljovic.
Kyrgios held his job, as did Humbert, and then the Australian played one of the great draws of his career to balance the match at two sets each.
From there, Kyrgios was not going to lose. Not with the impulse wave that the crowd provided. Not since last year’s Melbourne tournament has tennis seen – or heard – such a noise.
He broke off Humbert early and held the service throughout the set, falling to his knees after a remarkable victory.
“If you were in my head, I was just thinking about all the shit I’d do as a cop if I lost that game,” Kyrgios said after the game. “I’m lost in words, it’s one of the craziest games I’ve ever played.”
Kyrgios will face last year’s Australian Open finalist and reigning US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the third round on Friday.