Nick Kyrgios’ return home ends in disappointing loss to brilliant Brit Jacob Fearnley

Nick Kyrgios has lost out in his comeback bid in what at times looked like a display that would end in retirement over being finished but he lost in straight sets at the Australian Open to Jacob Fearnley.

Fearnley was always a player to be feared in the draw as he has had one of the biggest ranking rises of the past year and keeps getting better and better. In a time when Andy Murray has retired and Jack Draper has ascended the throne of British tennis, it is Fearnley who sits ready to make his next step.

It was a very even start between the pair but one that saw Fearnley eventually gain the impetus. He won the opening tiebreak 7-6 and surged into a 3-1 lead breaking Kyrgios’s serve. But trouble awaited for the Aussie.

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He had to call for the doctor as perhaps was expected at some point. He had an abdominal issue which saw him in doubt for the tournament as a whole so the fact he has played is certainly a decision that was always going to be 50:50.

Instead of retiring though, he stayed out. Fearnley took the second set 6-3 and looked the more likely to win. Even more so when he surged towards the finish in the next set.

But after saving break point, Fearnley started to dismantle as he looked to hand Kyrgios a lifeline likely due to nerves. He didn’t let the crowd get on his back though and roared back.

He sealed the tiebreak to stop the comeback in its tracks. Where does Kyrgios go from here? Tough to say but it certainly isn’t easy and especially against a rising star like Fearnley.

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