Off the wire
Kerry in Nigeria to discuss political development  • Feyenoord dominate, but fail to score at Ajax  • PNA says under pressure to drop UN statehood bill  • 30 policemen killed in S. Philippine firefight  • Japanese opposition parties urge Abe to follow Murayama Statement  • 65 killed in clashes, bomb attacks in Iraq  • 35 militants killed in army airstrikes in NW Pakistan  • Niger president visits Algeria pushing for closer bilateral ties  • Nepal unveils committee to initiate voting process on disputed issues of new constitution  • Turkish PM vows to push on peace process with Kurds  
You are here:   Home

Roundup: Home town hero Kyrgios into quarterfinals of Australian Open

Xinhua, January 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios produced an epic comeback to stun Andreas Seppi in five sets and reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Sunday.

Despite dropping the first two sets, Kyrgios summoned an energetic home crowd and burst into life, saving one match point as he stormed to a 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 8-6 victory.

He will now meet Andy Murray in the quarter finals, after the British sixth seed held off Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov to win 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5.

Earlier, on the women's side of the draw, No. 3 Simona Halep eased into the final eight with a comfortable straight sets win over Yanina Wickmayer.

But it was Kyrgios who, in typically audacious fashion, was stealing the show.

Seppi, who famously defeated world No. 2 Roger Federer in the last round, claimed the first two sets with just two service breaks, as Kyrgios's inexperience let him down at costly moments.

However, Seppi's two-set lead flattered the Italian and soon, Krygios began to get a vocal home crowd back on his side.

With an energetic display, featuring shouts of "come on" and "let's go" following successful shots, Kyrgios won the third set 6-3.

Seppi came again and had the chance to win the contest when he brought up match point at 6-5 in the fourth. But Kyrgios responded with consecutive aces, winning the subsequent tiebreak and sending the match to a deciding set.

Once there, the 19-year-old found an extra gear, holding his nerve to see off his opponent and reach just his second Grand Slam quarter final.

"It's crazy," Kyrgios said after the match. "I don't think it's sunk in yet.

"When I saw I had finally won the match, it was incredible. It was the best feeling I ever had. To know the body could come back from two sets to love down, knowing I haven't had matches, it's just a massive confidence boost."

Kyrgios will meet Murray in the final eight, after the Scotsman won the last five games of his match against Dimitrov to progress in four sets.

Murray had allowed Dimitrov back into the contest after failing to serve out the second set at 6-5, losing the resulting tiebreak.

However, he would quickly make amends, breaking and holding to claim the third, before storming from 5-2 down to take the match.

Dimitrov's frustrations were clear to see, smashing his racket on the Rod Laver surface as Murray cruised to victory.

Earlier, on the women' s side, Halep continued her search for a first ever Grand Slam title with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win over Wickmayer.

After the match, the Romanian said she was growing in confidence with each victory throughout the tournament.

"I have a lot of confidence now because I didn't lose a set," she told reporters.

"I had good matches here in the first week, so I'm really happy that I'm in the second week, just like last year.

"Here, I started to play my best tennis in Grand Slams. So it means a lot for me. I really have more confidence now to play in the quarterfinals." Endi