Kyrgios defeats Tsonga in classic

The best match, in my opinion, played so far at Aus Open 2018, was on RLA night 5.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (15) took on Nick Kyrgios (17) and treated the crowd to a serving exhibition like none seen for many a time.

Tsonga opened with an ace and 2 forehand winners to set the trend for the match, and Kyrgios replied with his love game, including an ace and service winner.

No surprises yet.

Then an exchange of service breaks to shock everyone - Tsonga lost his serve from 0-30 in the third game with four unforced errors and Kyrgios lost his in the sixth game, again due mainly to his own mistakes.

3-3 and from there it was just Kyrgios hitting aces and Tsonga serving also serving brilliantly and volleying too well for many of the Australian’s passing attempts.

A tie break was the only way set one could be resolved because no one could break serve anymore.

No points were lost against serve for the first eight points - then two errors from the forehand of Tsonga, one on his serve, gave Kyrgios 6-4 and two set points.

The first was on his racquet but he was disappointed when Tsonga hit a forehand winner.

However when serving to level at 6-6 the Frenchman double faulted to give Kyrgios the set 7-6(5).

Set two began with both men holding serve comfortably until the fifth game where Tsonga broke serve on the back of Aussie unforced errors.

Kyrgios was up 40-0 in the seventh game but was brought back to break point which he saved.

Tsonga held serve for the remainder of set two and levelled at 6-7(5) 6-4.

No breaks of serve in set three, not even a break point, and another tie break.

Kyrgios won the first point against serve with a forehand winner to lead 4-2, but Tsonga hit back and it was 5-5 soon after Nick’s unforced error at 4-4.

An Aussie forehand winner on the Jo-Wilfried serve and it was set point.

Converted and Kyrgios was two sets to one up 7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(6).

Kyrgios was playing catch up in the fourth set but again no breaks of serve and a third tie break was required.

Tsonga was in control after a double fault from Kyrgios on the second point and a winner from the French racquet on the Aussie serve, to bring it to 5-2 and two Tsonga serves to come.

Kyrgios won the next five points - four from French errors - to steal the set and match.

7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(6) 7-6(5)

Amazing match with nearly 60 aces hit and Kyrgios beating a childhood hero in their second encounter - next for Nick a fourth round test against third seed Grigor Dimitrov, the man he beat in Brisbane recently.