Photograph: Getty Images
The Nick Kyrgios show is over for another year at Melbourne Park after he lost to Daniil Medvedev in four sets.
The Aussie was at his brilliant best at times but couldn’t sustain it long enough; eventually losing to the world No. 2 6-7(1), 4-6, 6-4, 2-6 in two hours and 58 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
It was a match where anything could happen but Medvedev was simply too strong as he registered his first career win over Kyrgios - their H2H has Kyrgios leading 2-1.
The Australian had the better of the Russian the last two times they played, however, they were both different products then to what they are now. Medvedev is a Grand Slam winner and knocking on the door of world No. 1 status whereas Kyrgios rarely plays now and doesn’t take it as seriously as he did when he was a top 20 player.
It must be acknowledged that for someone who has played so little tennis - plus coming out of COVID isolation at the start of the week - Kyrgios looked sharp, engaged and a chance to steal a win.
It wasn’t to be, but the fans who packed into a half capacity Rod Laver Arena can go home knowing their money was well spent because it was one of the more entertaining matches they’ll ever see.
From a statistical point of view, the Russian had the better of play. Despite Kyrgios having arguably one of the best serves in the history of the game, it was Medvedev who led the ace count. The Russian sent down 31 aces compared to just 17 from the Aussie. If that wasn’t enough, Medvedev hit a mind-boggling 68 winners while keeping his unforced errors to just 29.
It was hard to predict what Kyrgios would bring this summer but although it was short, it was certainly sweet.