2h ago

'Not bad for part-time player': Kyrgios wins five-setter at Wimbledon

Share
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
Nick Kyrgios (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Nick Kyrgios (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Nick Kyrgios won his first match since the Australian Open on Wednesday, defeating French 21st seed Ugo Humbert in five sets at Wimbledon before declaring: "Not bad for a part-time player".

The 60th-ranked Kyrgios triumphed 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 9-7 in a match held over from Tuesday evening when the final set was level at 3-3.

"Not bad for a part-time player," said Kyrgios who had also defeated Humbert in five sets at the Australian Open.

"Ugo is an incredible kid and I knew I was a massive underdog.

"It was easy to get off the couch in Canberra as Wimbledon is one of my favourite events and I heard there was going to be a crowd so it was an easy decision to come here."

"I got home late yesterday and was in such pain physically this morning, but it's easy to get up with a full crowd and it was so much fun."

"It's a great change of scenery," added Kyrgios who is playing his first event outside of his own country for the first time since the 2020 Australian Open.

Kyrgios shrugged off an ugly-looking fall in the 13th game of the final set when his right knee buckled beneath him.

On Tuesday, he was overheard muttering that Court One was a joke.

His 23 aces and 51 winners sent him into a second round clash with Italy's Gianluca Mager.

Four of those aces had come on Tuesday in the first game of the fourth set, a service game which took just 43 seconds.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For only R75 per month, you have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today.
Subscribe to News24