Nick Kyrgios never fails to entertain and the Australian star was at his controversial best during his third round match against no.2 seed Daniil Medvedev.
During a topsy-turvy first set which was eventually won by Medvedev in a tie-break, Kyrgios accused experienced chair umpire Carlos Bernandes of starting the serving clock too quick between points, with players having 25 seconds to serve.
"I play a long point and I instantly walk to my towel and I come back and there is seven seconds on the clock," Kyrgios said to Bernandes at the change of ends.
"How's that possible?"
"How is that possible?!" 😡
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 20, 2022
Nick Kyrgios and the serve clock - the fiercest rivalry in sport! 🤣#AusOpen - Live on Channel 9 and 9Now pic.twitter.com/Zexo50Cay8
It appears Bernandes was just following the rules by starting the clock when the ball from the previous point was dead, and Kyrgios was just using the discussion to get a few extra seconds of rest.
When the first set ended, Kyrgios again spoke to Bernandes, insisting the fans didn't want to see the umpire start the clock quickly.
Earlier in the set, Kyrgios thrilled the spectators at Rod Laver Arena with a surprise underarm serve against Medvedev.
Break Point Medvedev? No worries. Just hit two aces and then hit them with the UNDERARM SERVE! 💥💥#AusOpen - Live on Channel 9 and 9Now pic.twitter.com/su0oMjhGSs
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 20, 2022
With the Russian standing well beyond the baseline to receive Kyrgios' serve, the Australian decided to mix it up and drop the underarm serve into court.
Medvedev motored into the net and got an excellent return back considering the situation and should have won the point, but missed his volley from Kyrgios' attempted pass.
Kyrgios started the match on fire, earning two break points on Medvedev's serve, but the Russian survived both and immediately swung the momentum his way.
Medvedev broke Kyrgios in the next game and then held his serve to consolidate a 3-1 lead in the first set.
The Australian fought off a break point in the fifth game and managed to hold serve, just as it looked like the no.2 seed was about to take a stranglehold on the set.
With Medvedev looking on song, Kyrgios earned the break back in the eighth game of the set to level the match at 4-4 to the cheers of the parochial Rod Laver Arena crowd.
The ninth game was a titanic battle going to three deuces, with Kyrgios saving a break point before taking a 5-4 lead.
Games stayed on serve until the all-important tiebreak, with Medvedev winning two early points on Kyrgios' serve to run away with the set 7-6(1).
