Wimbledon 2022 LIVE: Nick Kyrgios brushes past Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four-set thriller to advance to fourth round

Kyrgios, who will next play, claimed his first win at a major against a Top 10 opponent since the third round of The Championships in 2015. The 27-year-old will try to reach his third major quarter-final and his first since the 2015 Australian Open.

“Honestly it was a hell of an atmosphere, amazing match. I honestly felt like the favourite coming in, I played him a couple weeks ago. But I knew that it was going to be a tough match. He’s a hell of a player. I had my own tactics out there and he knows how to play me, he’s beaten me once. Obviously, I’ve had success. It was a hell of a match,” Kyrgios said in his on-court interview.

Wimbledon 2022 LIVE: Nick Kyrgios brushes past Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four-set thriller to advance to fourth round

The tension began to build at the end of the first set when Kyrgios was unhappy with a linesperson’s call on the baseline. For the rest of the match, the Australian had constant discussions with the chair umpire, the crowd and his player’s box. But ultimately, he emerged victorious after three hours and 16 minutes.

“I’m just super happy to be through. He was getting frustrated at times and it’s a frustrating sport, that’s for sure. I have the ultimate respect for him. Whatever happens on the court [is] on the court. I love him and I’m close with his brother,” Kyrgios said.

“I’ve got ultimate respect for him”@NickKyrgios salutes @steftsitsipas after their duel on No.1 Court#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Tof1S6LWSR

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2022

Wimbledon 2022 LIVE: Nick Kyrgios brushes past Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four-set thriller to advance to fourth round

Tsitsipas was the more solid player in the first-set tie-break, as Kyrgios let his lack of concentration affect his play. That continued into the second set, with the 27-year-old losing his focus and spending much of his time voicing his displeasure between points and during changeovers. The No. 1 Court crowd was also much rowdier than normal for Wimbledon.

The Australian later received an audible obscenity warning after another linesperson made a report to the chair umpire. But through it all, despite playing very quickly and relying on his booming serve, the World No. 40 managed to remain in touch with the fourth seed on the scoreboard. He did not lose his serve in the match, saving all five break points he faced and winning 81 per cent of his first-serve points.

Wimbledon 2022 LIVE: Nick Kyrgios brushes past Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four-set thriller to advance to fourth round

Wimbledon 2022 LIVE: Nick Kyrgios brushes past Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four-set thriller to advance to fourth round

Kyrgios saved a break point at 4-4 in the second set thanks to a daring second-serve ace. After being on the brink of falling in a two-set deficit, Kyrgios instead levelled the match in the next game when a poorly struck Tsitsipas overhead allowed him to punch a forehand into the open court for a winner.

In a sign of his frustration, as the players walked towards their chairs, Tsitsipas jabbed a backhand low into the crowd, barely missing fans with the ball.

While the dialogue continued during the third set, Tsitsipas lost concentration and his game began to falter, which allowed Kyrgios to surge ahead with a break at 2-1 behind a forehand winner. Later in the set, Kyrgios hit an underarm serve. Tsitsipas reached the ball, but hit with great force into netting behind the court, for which he received a point penalty.

The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion appeared to aim shots in the direction of the Australian. On the other side of the court, Kyrgios continued to talk between points and curtsied to the crowd at 5-3 in the third set following a winning drop shot. After hitting a crisp backhand volley winner to claim the set on the next point, he made a “money” motion with his hand in praise of his own work.

Wimbledon 2022 LIVE: Nick Kyrgios brushes past Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four-set thriller to advance to fourth round

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