Young and free Kyrgios makes Australians rejoice

Monday, 26 January 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

MELBOURNE (Reuters): Teenager Nick Kyrgios ensured his compatriots would wake up to celebrate their national day on Monday by saving a match point against Andreas Seppi to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday. Playing with the unencum

bered freedom and brashness of youth, the 19-year-old had to battle his own demons to advance to the last eight with a 5-7 4-6 6-3 7-6(5) 8-6 win to overcome the Italian, who had upset Roger Federer in the third round. “It’s crazy. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” Kyrgios told reporters. “When I saw I had finally won the match it was incredible. It was the best feeling I ever had.” Kyrgios, who made the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, spent much of the first two sets berating himself, producing outbursts of impressive swearing, and taking his frustration out on a racquet that earned him a warning from the umpire. Once he settled down, however, he matched the smooth baselining Italian and whipped Hisense Arena, girt by green and gold wearing fans, into a patriotic fervour.