From a blockbuster five-setter in front of a jam-packed John Cain Arena - to ticket holders being escorted out of Rod Laver Arena, day five of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park had it all.
Nick Kyrgios was the only Australian in singles action on day five. The Canberran took on third seed Dominic Thiem in a blockbuster encounter on John Cain Arena.
Kyrgios came out on fire, claiming the first two sets 6-4, 6-4 in under 80 minutes. But from that point onwards, Thiem, who pushed eight time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic to five sets in last years final, put on an absolute clinic - a flawless recovery to win the match.
Thiem hit just eight unforced errors in three perfect sets to come from behind, claiming a 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory in three hours and 21 minutes.
"He's a hell of a player. He's so disciplined. He's so composed. His level doesn't drop," Kyrgios said on the third seed.
"Couple points in it. I'm not disappointed at all. I'm super proud of everything I've done the last couple of months to get ready for it. And, you know, good luck to him. I hope he does well, because he's a hell of a player," Kyrgios said.
The atmosphere on John Cain Arena was absolutely electric, with the entirety of the crowd getting behind the Aussie, but somehow, the Austrian still prevailed.
"I think Thiem actually, you know, drew some energy from everyone kind of against him almost. He's played on the biggest stages in the world, so I don't think he was rattled at all. One thing I noticed about him maybe two sets to love down, he was always positive, he didn't show any negative emotion. He knew there was along way to go in that match. Yeah, the sport is not the same without the crowd, you know," Kyrgios said.
For now, Kyrgios' attention turns to the men's doubles draw, where he will compete with close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis.
"Now I'm focusing on doubles tomorrow. I'm going to have some fun with Thanasi. Unfortunately, there's obviously going to be no crowd, but I'm not thinking that far ahead."
As for post Australian Open - Kyrgios has not set any plans for himself as of yet:
"Depending on what happens with COVID in Australia, you know. I'm assuming we will probably settle it pretty quickly. But I don't know how I'll have to quarantine overseas in tournaments. For me personally, man, I'm used to playing in front of packed stadiums. I'm not gonna force myself around the world when the time is not right where I have to quarantine for a week and then play. I don't know. I'm not too sure what lies head."
After the completion of the blockbuster match on John Cain Arena, all eyes turned to Rod Laver Arena, where eight time champion Novak Djokovic found himself in a tricky situation against American Taylor Fritz.
The world number one took the opening two sets, but was hampered by injury - and the American took full advantage of the situation, taking Djokovic to five sets. During the match, play was temporarily paused at 11:30PM as all spectators were escorted out of the stadium in order to adhere to a five day lockdown which was set to begin at 11:59PM.
Once spectators were cleared from the stadium, the world number one managed to overcome incredible adversity to eventually run over the top of Fritz 7-6(1), 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2.
"Well, definitely one of the strangest matches that I was ever part of," Djokovic said.
"A lot of different things were happening.
Obviously crowd leaving the stadium midway through the match, something I have not experienced before.
Everything was working fine for me, and then beginning of the third set I made this quick move on the return going to the forehand, rotating there, and I just felt a tear, I felt something happen. Went out for medical timeout when I was tested, evaluated.
I have huge pain, I took the highest dose of anti-inflammatories possible. It did kick in end of fourth, beginning of the fifth when I actually started to move and I could actually start to rally with him from back of the court. Until that moment, it was only serve for me and kind of hoping and praying that I'm gonna get an easy ball after my serve so I could just go for it. That's what I've done.
I honestly don't know how I won this match. I'm very proud, at the same time sad and worried, because it's definitely something serious happening with my injury.
Yeah, I don't have much time to recover for the next match. Definitely not training tomorrow. I'm coming here to evaluate further more with doctor and medical team, and do some ultrasound and understand what's really going on so that the doctor and medical team can prescribe best possible treatment and the only possible treatment that I could even have the slightest chance to go out in less than 48 hours," Djokovic stated.
Day five genuinely had it all. To add to the drama - eighth seed Diego Schwartzman crashed out, going down to qualifier Aslan Karatsev 3-6, 3-6, 3-6 in what ended up being a demolition job by the Russian qualifier.
Adding to the list of craziness from day five - in a match that promised so much, 15th seed Pablo Carreno Busta retired injured in his match against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, trailing 0-6, 0-1 - handing the Bulgarian a spot in the round of 16, where he will face third seed Dominic Thiem in what will be a blockbuster match.
Meanwhile, in the doubles, Aussie duo Matthew Ebden and John-Patrick Smith claimed an impressive victory over Aussie 15th seeds and defending Australian Open finalists Luke Saville and Max Purcell 7-6(3), 6-4.
James Duckworth and Marc Polmans also advanced, defeated Ricardas Berankis and Mikhail Kukushkin 7-6(3), 6-2.
For Polmans, it was not his only win of the day. The Aussie doubled up, storming into the second round of the mixed doubles draw with partner Storm Sanders. They defeated fifth seeds Demi Schuurs and Wesley Koolhof 6-3, 3-6, 11-9.
10th seed pairing of Aussie John Peers and New Zealand's Michael Venus were also winners on day five, knocking off Korean wildcard pairing of Ji Sung Nam and Min-Kyu Song 6-4, 6-3.
Exiting on day five in the women's doubles draw were Aussie pairings Belinda Woolcock and Olivia Gadecki, as well as Lizette Cabrera and Maddison Inglis.
In other news, world number one Ash Barty withdrew from the women's doubles draw in order to ensure full fitness for her singles match on day six.
Tune in as The First Serve reporter Jedd Zetzer joined Damian Watson to wrap up all the action from day five at Melbourne Park.