THE Nick Kyrgios juggernaut rolls on after the teenager charged into the Australian Open’s fourth round, achieving a career-high ranking and the chance to notch another grand slam quarter-final appearance.
Aware of Roger Federer’s defeat to Andreas Seppi, Kyrgios was the epitome of professionalism as he ruthlessly dealt with expectation, a blood nose and Malek Jaziri.
The Canberra teenager chiselled out a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 victory to advance to the round of 16, where he will challenge resilient Seppi.
“It’s a great feeling,” Kyrgios said. “Obviously haven’t played too many matches coming in so it’s great to get some wins at the home slam.
“Very happy.”
But there are lingering concerns over Kyrgios’ fitness after he again needed mid-match treatment.
The mercurial right-hander said there was nothing to worry about.
“The back started tightening up a little bit, just had to get off court,” he said.
“It’s fine.”
Now guaranteed a minimum rise to world No 41, Kyrgios is on the cusp of a grand slam seeding ahead of May’s French Open.
If the 19-year-old prodigy can overcome Seppi in the round of 16, he will face either Andy Murray or Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals.
Confirming he had watched Seppi’s upset of Federer, Kyrgios said: “It was a massive upset for Seppi but it happens.
“It’s a sport where upsets happen.
Having battled back soreness in the first two rounds, he was simply too classy for Jaziri.
He broke serve in the eighth game of the first set and maintained his composure despite the distractions.
Sealing the first set in 28 minutes, Kokkinakis was slowed by Jaziri’s resistance in the second set.
Kyrgios was clearly the superior player but struggled to convert chances before the Tunisian summoned a trainer for treatment on his right thigh.
Trailing 0-4 in the tiebreak, Kyrgios did not panic,
He silently regrouped to draw level before outsmarting the willing Jaziri from the back-court.
And when he drew Jaziri into a volley error in the fourth game of the third set to take a 3-1 lead, the match was as good as over.
A lengthy delay for off-court treatment failed to slow Kyrgios’s advance as he peppered Jaziri’s defences to nail an insurance break.
Jaziri bravely saved five match points before Kyrgios completed the job.
Herald Sun