Nick Kyrgios falls to Daniil Medvedev in pulsating Australian Open encounter

Nick Kyrgios's Australian Open campaign has come to an end in the second round at the hands of Daniil Medvedev, with the world number two triumphing in four thrilling sets on Rod Laver Arena.

Medvedev won 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in 2 hours and 58 minutes, the result moving him one step closer to his goal of lifting the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup as the men's champion on January 30.

Kyrgios produced a display from which he can draw great pride. He dug deep to fight his way back when trailing two sets to love, and one can only imagine how he would have fared if his Australian Open preparation had not been disrupted by a positive COVID-19 test.

His performance featured everything tennis fans have come to expect from the Canberran when he is on court: sublime rallies, tweeners, heated discussions with the chair umpire and the more than occasional comment to the crowd.

Kyrgios started in brilliant fashion, sending down aces with two of his first three serves.

He went 40-15 up when he crunched a backhand winner down the line, before closing out the game with a third ace.

Medvedev found himself on the back foot in his opening service game, with Kyrgios earning two break points. But the Russian served his way to safety to level the first set at 1-1.

It was then Kyrgios's turn to feel the pressure. He went down 0-40 in his second service game, however saved two break points, the second with an ace.

But when a Kyrgios forehand went long at 30-40, Medvedev had the crucial break, which the 2021 Australian Open finalist consolidated by winning his next service game to lead 3-1.

The crowd were being treated to Kyrgios's full armoury of serves, with a 225kph ace complemented by an underarm attempt as he looked to work his way back into the