Nick Kyrgios cruised into the final 16 in Miami, but his match against Dušan Lajović wasn't without fireworks.
Kyrgios dominated the encounter, winning in straight sets 6-3 6-1 - however, a quarrel with a spectator during the first set threatened to unravel the Aussie's night.
The 23-year-old opened his Miami account with a straight sets win over Kazakhstani qualifier Alexander Bublik last week, setting up the clash with Serbian Lajović.
However, the clash between Kyrgios and the spectator - who was later ejected by security - was one that took Hard Rock Stadium by storm.
MORE: Kyrgios calls out Kerber after 'drama queen' sledge, ice-cold handshake
With Kyrgios up 4-1 in the first set, with Lajović preparing to serve, attention suddenly turned to the man in the crowd and Kyrgios.
"Why are you watching me on a Sunday night? You've got nothing else to do on a Sunday night?" a smiling Kyrgios said, suggesting the not-so-frugal spectator had paid to watch him play.
Kyrgios repeated the "Sunday night" line and smiled as he returned to his spot, ready to receive Lajovic's serve.
As he did so, the agitated spectator stood up and gesticulated towards Kyrgios, suggesting the player go into the stands to sort things out.
In response, Kyrgios had another crack: "Sunday night, and you're still out here watching me? What are you doing?"
The chair umpire calmed down the Australian, who happily carried on with the match.
However, as Kyrgios walked into position three points later, the spectator copped another burst: "Bro, where's your fam? Where's your fam?"
By then, organisers had had enough, and security escorted the spectator - who flipped the bird at Kyrgios - out of the venue.
As he left, Kyrgios gave him a playful wave, and the match continued.
This fan got served 😂 #ByeFelicia @NickKyrgios #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/8RkylsblDY
— Amanda Cifu (@AmandaCfew) March 25, 2019
The world No. 33 was too good for Lajović, Kyrgios firing 12 aces to Lajović's 0 in the 57-minute romp.
During the first set, one of the aces came in clever underarm fashion of the sort that infuriated Rafael Nadal in Mexico last month.
Quickly becoming his trademark...@NickKyrgios with the underarm ace 😂 pic.twitter.com/W5JbbE8n8V
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 25, 2019
Kyrgios will play Croatia's Borna Ćorić, who downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in a topsy-turvy three-setter.
The winner will take on the victor of the Nicoloz Basilashvili-Félix Auger-Aliassime match, leading to a potential semi against world No. 1 Novak Djokovic or reigning Miami champion John Isner.
After the match, Kyrgios said he enjoyed the contest with Lajović, but was confused at the spectator's actions.
"You've just got idiots in the crowd who have nothing else to do on a Sunday night but watch me play, yet are talking to me as though they're not interested in watching," he told reporters.
"I had a bit of fun with it. I knew he was going to get kicked out, I loved every single bit of it. I think the crowd loved it. I thought they saw some great tennis as well.
"When I go to a sporting event, I just admire the athletes and support them because I genuinely like being at an event.
"He's probably stuck in traffic going to his house in rush hour. I don't understand it.
"If anything, he got me going and got me motivated, I'm really happy with how I played."
Commentators believed the spectator told Kyrgios to "get a new haircut". However, the Aussie spilled the beans.
"At the change of ends he literally just said, 'you’re a dick'," Kyrgios said.
"And I was like, 'okay, I don’t quite understand the context of it. You’re sitting here, you paid good money to watch me on a Sunday night, so you obviously have nothing else to do'.
"And then he said it again, 'you're a dick', and I was like, 'you have nothing else to say'. And then he was like, 'come here and say it'.
"I was like, 'no, because I have to play'... and then it just kept going."
