TENNIS: Nick Kyrgios’ bid to reach a second consecutive Wimbledon quarter final have ended at the hands of Richard Gasquet.
The Frenchman atoned for his dramatic loss to the Australian in the 2014 Championships with a 7-5 6-1 6-7(7) 7-6(6) victory this time around.
“There was a lot of ups and downs. It was a tough, tough time, especially when he’s not missing any balls,” said Kyrgios, who was unable to produce the scintillating form that saw him upset seventh seed Milos Raonic in the previous round.
After surrendering the first set in 36 minutes, Kyrgios was most obviously outclassed in the second, Gasquet taking just 24 minutes to extend his lead.
Kyrgios rallied to save two match points in the third set, which he won in a tiebreak, and also held two set points in the fourth-set tiebreak.
But unlike in 2014, when Kyrgios saved a Grand Slam record nine match points and recovered from two sets downs to conquer Gasquet en route to the quarter finals, the young Australian was unable to hold the momentum.
Kyrgios produced his 10th double-fault on set point, then netted a backhand, before Gasquet prevailed after two hours and 54 minutes, ending Australia’s singles participation at this year’s Championships.
“It hurts,” conceded Kyrgios, who now turns his attention to preparing for Australia’s Davis Cup quarterfinal against Kazakhstan later this month.
“You never want to go out of a Grand Slam. I feel like I definitely could have done better.”
Kyrgios and American Madison Keys also also fought hard before falling in a three-set epic in the second round of the mixed doubles event.
Lleyton Hewitt bowed out of both the men's doubles and the mixed doubles competitions. Hewitt and Thanasi Kokkinasis 6-7 (7-9) 3-6 6-7 (1-7) to Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau before the 17-time Wimbledon veteran played his last game at the fabled tournament as he and Casey Dellacqua went down 6-0 3-6 3-6 to Juan Sebastian-Cabal and Cara Black.
Day 6
Nick Kyrgios remains Australia's only remaining player in the Wimbledon singles draw after Sam Groth and Casey Dellacqua both lost their third round matches.
Sam Groth hopes to return as a Wimbledon title challenger after dragging the great Roger Federer out of his comfort zone in a gallant four-set third-round loss to the seven-times champion.
Groth dreamt of a centre-court boilover before succumbing 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-2 to the grasscourt maestro on Saturday.
“I’m not just here to make up numbers and I think I proved that,” said the last of Australia’s classic serve-volleyers.
“I said beforehand, I generally thought I could give him trouble and in the back end of the second set and the third set, once I settled down, I started to give him trouble.
“He’s human.”
Pole Agnieszka Radwankska ended Casey Dellacqua’s Wimbledon campaign with a ruthless straight-sets third-round win at the All England Club.
Radwanska, the 13th seed and 2012 finalist, outclassed Dellacqua 6-1 6-4 in 63 minutes on Saturday.
Dellacqua had been striving to reach the last 16 for the first time to match her career-best Grand Slam runs in Melbourne and New York.
Kyrgios takes on Richard Gasquet in his fourth round encounter on Sunday night.
Day 5
Nick Krygios kept his Wimbledon dream alive with a four set victory over Canadian seventh seed Milos Raonic as Bernard Tomic and Sam Stosur both suffered third round defeats.
Kyrgios went down 5-7 in the first set before going on to win the next three 7-5 7-6(3) 6-3 to reach the last 16.
The young Aussie out-aced the game’s most explosive server 34 winners to 18 to set up a fourth round encounter with Frenchman Ricahrd Gasquet.
Bernard Tomic went down in straight sets 3-6 3-6 3-6 to world number one Novak Djokovic.
Sam Stosur bowed out of the women's draw with a 2-6 0-6 loss to Coco Vandeweghe after conceding twelve straight games to the American.
Action continues on day 6 with the following Aussies on court:
Sam Groth vs Roger Federer (10pm AEST)
Casey Dellacqua vs Agnieska Radwandska (10pm)
Day 4
Sam Groth and Casey Dellacqua will join Sam Stosur, Nick Krygios and Bernard Tomic in the third round of Wimbledon after victories overnight.
Groth took down good mate and fellow Aussie James Duckworth in straight sets 7-5 6-4 7-6 (8-6). The win sets up a clash with Wimbledon legend Roger Federer in the round of 32.
“It’s not just playing one of the all-time greats, it’s the fact I’m in the third round at Wimbledon and it’s my second time in the third round of a slam this year,” Groth said.
“In one way it’s a dream come true from where I’ve come from. But at the same time I feel like it’s a match I can definitely win.
“I feel like if I serve well and play aggressive and do what I need to do I can give him some real problems.
“I’m not going to be favourite. I’m going to be the big underdog, but I feel like I can win.”
Casey Dellacqua upset Ukraine’s 17th seed Elina Svitolina 7-6(3) 6-3 to also keep her Wimbledon run alive. The result sets up a showdown with 2012 finalist Agnieszka Radwanska on Saturday.
“She made quarters of the French Open, so it’s a good win for me,” Dellacqua said.
“I felt confident in my ability to go out there and win, but it’s different to go out there and do it but I was able to dial in my game.”
In doubles action LLeyton Hewitt and Thanasi Kokkinakis won 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 8-6.
Action continues on day 5 with the following Aussies on court:
Nick Krygios vs Milos Raonic (9:15pm AEST)
Sam Stosur vs Coco Vandeweghe (11:30pm)
Bernard Tomic vs Novak Djokovic (12am)
Day 3
Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic and Sam Stosur have all pulled out straight sets victories to progress through to the third round at Wimbledon.
Kyrgios outclassed world number 35 Juan Monaco 7-6 6-3 6-4 in under two hours. The win sees the 26th seeded Aussie set up a clash with 7th seeded Canadian Milos Raonic in the next round as he looks to make another deep run at Wimbledon.
Tomic had to come through two tie-breaks but eventually beat world number 151 Pierre-Hughes Herbert of France 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 7-6 (7-5). Next up for Tomic is one of the toughest tests in tennis - facing world number one and tournament favourite Novak Djokovic in the third round.
Stosur took down 107th ranked Urszula Radwanska 6-3 6-4 keep her tournament alive. The result matches Stosur's best ever result at Wimbledon and she will be confident she can make it to unchartered territory - the fourth round - when she takes on unseeded Coco Vandeweghe next.
Matthew Ebden bowed out against USA's John Isner 2-6 7-6 4-6.
Day 2
Australia will have nine players in the second round of Wimbledon after a near perfect second day at Wimbledon.
James Duckworth made it past the first round of the tournament for the first time after defeating Tunisia's Malek Jaziri in five sets 7-6(2) 6-2 3-6 3-6 7-5.
He will now face Sam Groth in the second round after the slick serving Aussie knocked out USA's Jack Sock in four 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-3. The result will now likely set up a clash between one of the Australians and Swiss maestro Roger Federer in the third round.
Casey Dellacqua made light work of her opening round opponent Austrian Tamira Paszek winning 6-2, 6-2. Next up will be Ukrainian 17th seed Elina Svitolina who recently made it through to the French Open quarter finals.
Ajla Tomljanovic knocked off Czech Klara Kouklova in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. The 81st ranked Aussie will need to repeat her 2013 French Open upset by defeating 13th seed Agnieska Radwanska to set up a potential third round clash with Dellacqua.
Australia's only loss on day two saw Jarmila Gadjsova go down to 18th seeded German Sabine Lasicki 5-7, 4-6.
Action continues on day 3 with the following Aussies on court:
Sam Stosur vs Urszula Radwanska
Bernard Tomic vs Pierre-Hughes Herbert
Matthew Ebden vs John Isner
Nick Kyrgios vs Juan Monaco
John Millman vs Marcos Bagdhatis
Day 1
Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic and Sam Stosur have all progressed to the second round of Wimbledon championships in what was a mixed opening day for the Aussie contingent.
Kyrgios signalled his intentions after he blasted his way past Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman 6-0 6-2 7-6(6) in just 84 minutes.
27th seed Tomic had to fight back from a 2-1 set deficit to eventually triumph in five - 6-3 2-6 2-6 6-2 6-3 - over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
Wildcard Matthew Ebden progressed in straight sets 6-1 6-2 6-4 over Slovenia’s Blaz Rola while John Millman upset Spanish world number 19 Tommy Robredo 6-2 6-3 6-4.
22nd seed Stosur knocked off Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic 6-4 6-4 while Daria Gavrilova went down 6-7 1-6 to Romania’s Irina Begu.
Former champion Lleyton Hewitt bowed out after a five set marathon against Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen. Hewitt went up two sets to one before eventually going down 6-3 3-6 6-4 0-6 9-11.
It was the three-time Olympian’s 17th and last Wimbledon appearance as he plans on finishing his career at next year’s Australian Open.
Argentinean 24th seed Leonardo Mayer was too strong for a gallant Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (7-9) 6-7 (3-7) 4-6 in what was a punishing three-hour three-set encounter.
Struggling Marinko Matosevic also lost in the first round after blowing a two-set advantage against British wildcard Liam Broady. Matosevic’s 7-5 6-4 3-6 2-6 3-6 defeat was his 11th straight defeat and he faces the grim prospect of falling out of the world’s top 150 after the tournament.
After missing out on the opportunity to close out the match in a third set tiebreak, J.P. Smith went down in five sets to France’s Kenny De Schepper 6-4 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 4-6 4-6.
Luke Saville was outclassed by Frenchman Richard Gasquet succumbing in straight sets 3-6 2-6 2-6.
James Duckworth, Sam Groth, Casey Dellacqua, Ajla Tomljanovic and Jarmila Gajdosova will lead the Aussie charge on the second day of the Championships.
Tennis Australia & Olympics.com.au
