Nick Kyrgios’s Australian Open ended abruptly in the first round, as he crashed out to British No 3 Jacob Fearnley in three tightly contested sets.
The 29-year-old home hope was brilliant and frustrating in equal measures but was unable to capitalise on key opportunities, ultimately losing 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) to the inexperienced qualifier.
Despite huge support from a fervent Melbourne crowd, the Australian failed to convert a set point in the third set, allowing Fearnley to force a tie-break and seal the match with a dominant performance in the decider.
For Fearnley, ranked outside the top 100, this marked a significant milestone in his career as he advances to the second round.
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