By Richard Pagliaro
It's always darkest before the dawn.
But a different darkness dawned on Nick Kyrgios staring down a pair of match points.
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A stubborn Kyrgios denied two match points fighting off talented Frenchman Ugo Humbert 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 in a thrilling Australian Open second round clash on John Cain Arena.
The 29th-seeded Humbert served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set only to see Kyrgios erupt in a shotmaking spree sparking a classic comeback.
While Kyrgios can alienate some fans with his on-court antics and off-court jabs at champions including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, when he's fully plugged into the muse he remains one of the sport's most electrifying players who can take fans along for a the wondrous ride.
This memorable victory vaults Kyrgios into a marquee third-round match vs. 2020 AO finalist Dominic Thiem.
The enigmatic Kyrgios conceded fear factor was key to his comeback as much as his superb serving under pressure.
Down match points, Kyrgios admitted he was afraid of the shellacking he'd take from some media members in his post-match presser if he lost.
"The media doesn't hold back on me. You know, I was definitely thinking about—I felt like there was a lot of expectation on me, not playing for a year and coming back," Kyrgios said. "I wasn't expecting too much of myself, but of course when I'm match point down second-round exit, I was almost afraid. I was afraid to come into this room, you know, go to my Airbnb and just read about it and take it all in, take all the negativity in that I have already taken. It's not easy to come back and try and put it all behind.
"That's what I was thinking about. I was just, like, my back's up against the wall... I don't know how I got out of it. Yeah, it was insane. Yeah, I don't know how I would have reacted to negativity this year, you know. I don't know."
Afterward, Kyrgios credited the ultra-talented left-hander for outplaying him for much of the match.
Ultimately, Kyrgios' commitment to the fight and his crackling serve saved him. Kyrgios cranked 30 aces—three more than Humbert—in the match. In the decisive set, Kyrgios served 73 percent and won 17 of 19 first-serve points.
Playing just his second tournament after a year layoff due to the pandemic, Kyrgios surprised himself with his staying power.
It all made Kyrgios want to kick back with a glass of Merlot in celebration.
"I felt fresh in the fifth set. And for not playing in about 13 months, it's pretty crazy that I actually felt like I looked the fresher of the two at the end of the match, which is mind boggling for me," Kyrgios said. "I feel like I played a little bit better today. I definitely had to play better. He's a hell of an opponent. Top 30 in the world, you're not going to be a walkover.
"But, yeah, I'm happy with just winning, man. Like at this stage in my career, I feel old. I just want to have a glass of red wine, man, after a match like that. I just, like, I don't know. Like, I don't know."
The 25-year-old Aussie will want to bottle his serving performance and spirited scrappiness and uncork it all against US Open champion Dominic Thiem in what could be a blockbuster third-rounder.
"He's one of the best players in the world so he's for sure going to be able to rise to that occasion," Kyrgios said. "He's not going to be scared about it. He's excited. That's what makes him so good. He's one of the players that loves to thrives in big-match situations. I know that. I know that he's capable.
"You're not going to make Grand Slam finals and win slams if you're going to be scared of a little bit of an Aussie crowd. So, yeah, I'm expecting him to play his best tennis, and I'm not going to go in there saying, I'm playing my best tennis or I'm feeling the best, but I'm going to go in there saying I've got a good chance."
Major fear near the finish line can cause paralysing pressure in even accomplished champions yet on this night fear was the fuel
"I just know that every tennis player deals with negative stuff. I'm not trying to play a victim here, but I don't live under a rock. I know I caught a lot of flack for everything I do," Kyrgios said. "Sometimes I don't read it, but, like, it's not hard to miss when I wake up and go to Instagram and it's just subconsciously there. My mind is taking it all in. I mean, it's not easy to just put it behind you. I have been dealing with it -- I started dealing with this when I was 17, 18. I was like a child then...
"Like someone loses, another Aussie loses tonight, say, and they will be, like, Oh, great effort winning a first round. He really put his heart out. But if I lose tonight, it's an absolute, it's a disaster. I remember one time I played five sets with Seppi and I lost from two sets to love up, and I got booed off the court. I just feel like it's not so easy."
Photo credit: Australian Open Facebook