Melbourne (AFP)

Dominic Thiem (3rd in the world) was too solid and too calm for the madness of Nick Kyrgios (47th), whom he beat 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, Friday in the 3rd round of the Australian Open in an electric atmosphere.

“First game against Nick, on his favorite court and in front of a fantastic crowd, there are easier events ... It's one of the biggest challenges in our sport, you never know what's going to happen. a very great player when he is on fire like today ", noted Thiem.

In an almost packed John Cain Arena and entirely won over to the cause of Kyrgios, the Australian's champagne tennis worked well in the first two sets.

Unplayable, he won the second round on an ace served with a spoon.

In the process, Kyrgios offered himself two break points in the first game of the third set.

At that moment, "if he had made the break, the match was over", commented Thiem, admitting to having then "smelled the smell of defeat".

"But I fought. And then I gradually got used to his game, to the court, to the atmosphere. So the longer the match lasted, the better I felt," added the Austrian.

"Since the US Open, I know that nothing is impossible," said the player who was led two sets to zero by Alexander Zverev in the final at Flushing Meadows in September, before winning his first Grand Slam title.

He equalized with two sets everywhere, while Kyrgios' magic racket continued to deliver a few bluffing shots, but fewer.

In the fifth round, Kyrgios was on a wire, and did Kyrgios.

Having shouted "sit (descend)" at the ball in mid-rally, he lost the point for "embarrassment".

"Are you serious? You say that it is an embarrassment, when the cries of some players are not? The cries of (Belarusian player Victoria) Azarenka are okay, but isn't that right?" Australian player.

In the seventh game, Thiem's ​​strength got the upper hand and the Austrian broke and took a definite advantage, despite the unconditional and loud support of the crowd for this final game before a reconfinement of the population of Melbourne for five. days.

"I always prefer to play in front of the public, even if he is not for me, admitted Thiem. And tonight, obviously, he was for his hero. But that's normal. And I prefer it like that than on a short empty, as it will unfortunately be next time. Tonight was epic and it was a great game before confinement. "

In the next round, Thiem will face Grigor Dimitrov (21st), who had an easy third round since he benefited from the retirement of Pablo Carreno (16th) at the start of the second round.

© 2021 AFP