Australian Open 2021: Dominic Thiem downs local favourite Nick Kyrgios with stunning comeback in five-set thriller

US Open champion and last year’s runner-up battled to victory in front of a partisan crowd

US Open champion Dominic Thiem won from two sets down for the fourth time in his career (Getty Images)

Dominic Thiem pulled off a stunning comeback win over a fired-up Nick Kyrgios in a five-set classic at the Australian Open on Friday, disappointing a passionate crowd on the final night of action before the start of a local lockdown.

On his favourite court, in John Cain Arena, Kyrgios came up short as US Open champion Thiem fought from two sets down to secure a scintillating 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over the Australian maverick in the third round.

“That first match against Nick here on his favourite court with an amazing crowd, there are easier things to do,” said the Austrian third seed, who sealed the victory with a majestic backhand winner down the line.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN: No crowds for five days amid snap lockdown

“Surely that’s one of the toughest challenges in our sport. Tonight was epic and a good last match before the lock-down, it’s really sad to say.”

A cluster of Covid-19 cases in Melbourne means there will be no more crowds at the Australian Open for at least five days, but the home crowd got their money’s worth – if not the desired winner.

Thiem, runner-up in Melbourne last year, was shell-shocked for the first two sets, barely able to lay a glove on Kyrgios who channelled the crowd’s energy to produce some electrifying tennis.

While the tension in the stadium was relentless, it was also on a knife-edge outside the arena as police on horse-back dispersed a crowd of several hundred anti-lockdown demonstrators about an hour into the match.

Inside the arena, Kyrgios stormed to a two-set lead with an impish underarm ace.

Yet from there Thiem dug in grimly, and stole the momentum from the Australian’s hands by serving like a machine.

A frustrated Kyrgios smashed his racket into the court before surrendering the third set with a bungled ‘tweener’.

Suddenly it was the Australian’s back against the wall as a resurgent Thiem began wielding his racket like a wand.

In a moment of madness, Kyrgios bungled another ‘tweener’ rather than volley into an open court, squandering the chance for a 5-4 lead in the fourth set.

Thiem made him pay with three booming returns to break and at the change of ends an angst-filled Kyrgios fired a ball high into the terraces to lose an automatic point for a second code of conduct violation.

Moments later the match was level, as Kyrgios fired wide to concede the set.

Nick Kyrgios was animated throughout as ever (AFP via Getty Images)

Thiem bided his time before breaking Kyrgios at 3-3 in a nerve-shredding decider.

“That’s ridiculous,” Kyrgios said, after watching another Thiem winner sail past him before the Austrian knuckled down to serve out the match.

Elsewhere in the third round, 20-year-old Felix Auger Aliassime overcame compatriot Denis Shapovalov 7-5 7-5 6-3 in an all-Canadian affair, the 20th seed advancing at the 11th seed’s expense for arguably the biggest win of his career.

Eighth seed Diego Schwartzman bowed out in straight sets with a 3-6 3-6 3-6 loss to unseeded Aslan Karatsev, and Milos Raonic – seeded 14th – defeated Marton Fucsovics 7-6 (2), 5-7 6-2 6-2, while Dusan Lajovic saw off Pedro Martinez 6-7 (6) 7-5 6-1 6-4.

Reuters