Nick Kyrgios wins bad-tempered Wimbledon clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas

Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios knocked out fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a wild and wonderful Wimbledon third-round slugfest that threatened to spiral out of control on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Kyrgios produced sublime tennis to earn a 6-7(2) 6-4 6-3 7-6(7) victory but the match will be remembered chiefly as one of the most bad-tempered seen at Wimbledon for decades.

The eagerly-awaited Court One clash was the hottest ticket in town, even with Rafa Nadal playing over on Centre Court.

It did not disappoint either, with scintillating tennis accompanied by mayhem as both players lost their heads.

With the lights on and a deafening atmosphere it was the unseeded Kyrgios who emerged from the chaos with one of his finest Grand Slam victories, edging a nerve-jangling fourth set tiebreak after saving a set point.

Kyrgios claimed victory with a drop shot and he will enter the last 16 for the fourth time with serious title aspirations.

Next up is unseeded American Brandon Nakashima.

France's Alize Cornet celebrates beating Poland's Iga Swiatek in the third round at Wimbledon on July 2, 2022. AFP

For most of a high-octane first set it was the quality of tennis from both players that held sway.

Kyrgios was his usual chuntering self but lost his temper with umpire Damien Dumusois after an overruled line call at 5-5 in the first set.

Tsitsipas remained focused on the job to win the tiebreak and had a massive chance to seize control at 4-4 in the second set when Kyrgios let slip a 40-0 lead with two terrible drop shots, but saved a break point with a second-serve ace.

The fireworks really began when Tsitsipas served to stay in the set at 4-5.

Nick Kyrgios celebrates is win. Getty

First Kyrgios was warned for an audible