Aussie teenager Alex de Minaur put in a heroic performance against Marin Cilic in the third round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
The world number 45 never stopped running in a five-set thriller that ended at 2:23am local time.
After winning the first two sets, de Minaur dropped the next two as Cilic showed his class and experience.
In the deciding fifth set, de Minaur saved six match-points and worked his way back from 5-2 to level the scores at 5-5.
MORE: De Minaur in five-set epic | Federer stuns Kyrgios with shot of the tournament
World number seven Cilic proved too canny in the end though, taking the fifth set and the match 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-5.
Earlier in the day, Nick Kyrgios went down in three sets to Roger Federer. There's no real shame in that scoreline - Federer is an all-time great - but it's the way he went out that left a familiar bad taste.
Kyrgios, ranked 30 in the world, yelled at his box and seemed uninterested in losing the second set 6-1.
It's not the first time the 23-year-old has frustrated fans and followers. We don't need to go into all the gory details....
Suffice it to say that social media was reacting to the contrasting results exactly as you'd expect.
Alex De Minaur - Everything Kyrgios isn't. #nuffsaid 😊🖒🖒
— Dark Angel Indii (@Indian_two) September 2, 2018
Forget #Kyrgios & his never want to struggle attitude @TennisAustralia and get behind #DeMinaur the kid has grit & actually fought back to stay in the final set. Give them psychologist. These kids got talent #USOpen #Tennis
— Alvaro Luis (@AlvaroLTarazona) September 2, 2018
Kyrgios can only serve and hit trick shots that don't win him points most of the time forget winning him matches. In tennis it's the usual 'boring' forehands and backhands that win you matches and make you a champion, something de Minaur does ten times better than Kyrgios.
— Ashish (@Ashish_ND13) September 2, 2018
Many Aussies, and tennis fans in general, have given up on Kyrgios. Many gave up long ago. Nobody will ever give up on De Minaur. He’s a mini Hewitt. Great to watch. #USOpen
— That Sums It All Up (@AFCGiants) September 2, 2018
As much I like De minaur, I really can't with the Aussie players. Kyrgios/Tomic/Kokkinakis has disappointed me too much already. But Alex seems to be much more strong mentally.
— ⚽ | ⚾ | 🏎 | 📺 | (@theonlyoneawake) September 2, 2018
Kyrgios who? The new upcoming young Aussie; #deMinaur! #USOpen
— Renée_Hawkins (@Nay_Hawk) September 2, 2018
Alex #DeMinaur may have lost but he displayed courage and the true Aussie grit which Kyrgios and Tomic lack and make them lesser players.
— Mikhail (@FedexMahindra18) September 2, 2018
#USOpen DeMinaur is the next aussie tennis superstar. Tomic is gone and Kyrgios doesn't care. Get behind him #tennisaus
— Jeff (@jeffmorello) September 2, 2018
De Minaur is the true future of Australian Tennis.
— #NOLEFANMÉXICO🇲🇽 (@DjokovicfansMex) September 2, 2018
Kyrgios ❌
I look forward to Alex de Minaur winning his first slam while Kyrgios is still tanking. #USOpen
— Gavin Dennett (@gavindennett) September 2, 2018
