Australian Open: Kyrgios defeats Tsonga in tiebreak thriller

Nick Kyrgios has reached the eighth-finals of the Australian Open: The local hero defeats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets and will meet Grigor Dimitrov on Sunday.

Nick Kyrgios looked towards the tribune after 7:6 (5), 4:6,7:6 (6), 7:6 (5) against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. His double partner Matt Reid had taken a seat there, with whom Kyrgios was supposed to play the next match tomorrow. Asked by Jim Courier in an on-court interview, the local hero left it open whether he was really going to be at the start. Finally, Grigor Dimitrov is now waiting for Kyrgios with the third number of the tournament. Most recently in Brisbane, the Canberra man had won against Dimitrov for the first time and won the title.

Also in the stands: Hollywood star Will Smith. And his presence did not help calm Kyrgios, as he said after the match. Smith had the best seat ever – and saw a match at eye level in which Kyrgios was the better, happier man in the decisive moments. The Frenchman, for example, was leading 5-2 in the short game of the fourth set, and Kyrgios managed two mini-breaks and was able to cheer for a place in the last sixteen.