Share

Kyrgios beats Gasquet in epic

London - Australian wildcard Nick Kyrgios has saved an astonishing nine match points in a epic encounter with Richard Gasquet before downing the 13th seed in a five-set thriller at Wimbledon on Thursday.

The youngest man left in the draw at 19 years and 70 days old came back from two sets down to beat the Frenchman 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-5, 10-8 in a second round encounter that lasted just under four hours.

Kyrgios, on a career-high world ranking of 144, is tipped by defending champion Andy Murray as a star of the future and with his gritty performance showed exactly why seasoned pros think he is one to watch.

"I'm so happy right now, I don't even know what I'm talking about," the Wimbledon debutant said after the biggest win of his career.

He was given a rousing reception by the 4 000-strong crowd on Court Two.

Kyrgios grew into the match and there was little to separate the two once the second set was under way.

The youngster then clawed back the two sets before the dramatic final set in which, Gasquet, serving first, had the advantage.

Kyrgios held off a string of match points for the 2007 Wimbledon semi-finalist, then broke and took the only match point of his own with an ace.

"It's definitely the biggest win of my career so far, especially coming from two sets to love down. Mixed emotions right now, I don't really know what to do," Kyrgios said.

"I'm just stoked and happy to get through again. Well done to Richard as well, it was an unbelievable match.

"I knew the match points were there for him and I just went through my routine on my serve. That's my main weapon, that's what got me here.

"I just took my time and I just fended him off. As soon as I got my opportunity I took it.

"I was very nervous going out there. I got broken straight off the bat but I knew that if I played my game I still had a chance."

The highest number of match points known to have been saved by a winning singles player at Wimbledon is 11, by West Germany's Helga Schultze in 1966.

The International Tennis Federation could find only two other instances of a player saving nine match points to win a Grand Slam match in the Open Era (since 1968).

Chanda Rubin of the United States achieved the feat at the 1995 French Open, while compatriot Vince Spadea did likewise in 2004 at the same tournament.

Kyrgios faces Jiri Vesely in the third round.

The Czech wildcard beat French 24th seed Gael Monfils in the round of 64.

"He's got a monster of a serve, he's a great player and he's young as well.

"Monfils is no easy match and for him to win in five sets is a great effort," Kyrgios said.

"But I'm not thinking about that right now. I'm just going to do everything I can to recover: ice bath, stretch, massage, all that stuff, and go out there again."

Kyrgios received his Wimbledon wildcard after winning the Nottingham Challenger-circuit grasscourt tournament as a qualifier, and has more than rewarded the All England Club's faith.

For the first time since 1999, seven Australians advanced past the opening round at the All England Club.

However, Kyrgios and veteran Lleyton Hewitt are the only ones left standing. Hewitt plays Polish 15th seed Jerzy Janowicz in the second round later on Thursday.

Wimbledon results on Thursday, the fourth day of the 2014 championships at the All England Club (x denotes seeded player):

Men

Second round
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x14) bt Sam Querrey (USA) 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 14-12
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x5) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
Denis Istomin (UZB) bt Julian Reister (GER) 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, 6-4
Tommy Robredo (ESP x23) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Roger Federer (SUI x4) bt Gilles Muller (LUX) 6-3, 7-5, 6-3
Milos Raonic (CAN x8) bt Jack Sock (USA) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Lukasz Kubot (POL) bt Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 7-6 (7/3)
Simone Bolelli (ITA) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER x22) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
Kei Nishikori (JPN x10) bt Denis Kudla (USA) 6-3, 6-2, 6-1
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA x13) 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-5, 10-8
Jir Vesel (CZE) bt Gael Monfils (FRA x24) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 6-7 (3/7), 6-4
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) bt Frank Dancevic (CAN) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) bt Luks Rosol (CZE) 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 6-4

Women

Second round
Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 6-1, 6-1
Alize Cornet (FRA x25) bt Petra Cetkovsk (CZE) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
Andrea Petkovic (GER x20) bt Irina Begu (ROM) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Eugnie Bouchard (CAN) bt Silvia Soler (ESP) 7-5, 6-1
Angelique Kerber (GER x9) bt Heather Watson (GBR) 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
Kirsten Flipkens (BEL x24) bt Lourdes Domnguez (ESP) 6-2, 6-1
Alison Riske (USA) bt Camila Giorgi (ITA) 7-5, 6-2
Maria Sharapova (RUS x5) bt Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 6-2, 6-1
Vera Zvonareva (RUS) bt Donna Vekic (CRO) 6-4, 6-4
Zarina Diyas (KAZ) bt Carla Surez (ESP x15) 7-6 (14/12), 5-7, 6-2
Ana Ivanovic (SRB x11) bt Zheng Jie (CHN) 6-4, 6-0
Sabine Lisicki (GER x19) bt Karolna Plskov (CZE) 6-3, 7-5
Madison Keys (USA) bt Klara Koukalova (CZE x31) 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) bt Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1816 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1774 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1082 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 459 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 186 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE