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MELBOURNE, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Australia's long fought quest to win its home grand slam were dealt a blow on Wednesday night after firebrand Nick Kyrgios went down in a tense five setter.
Italy's Andreas Seppi fought back from two sets down to win the match 1-6, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-2, 10-8 following some audacious tennis that saved match point late in the fifth, getting retribution for going down in five sets against Kyrgios on the same court in 2015.
"On match point, (it) was a big shot down the line... maybe it was meant to be," the Italian world No. 89 told reporters after the match.
Seppi believed he had the capacity to come from two sets down given the second set "was pretty close" where he had his chances to win it, focusing on his own game and not the drama occurring at the other end of the court.
"I said (to) myself, why not?," Seppi said.
"Two years ago I was up two sets to love and he came back. I thought maybe I could also do it today."
But Seppi's result was undermined by a Kyrgios meltdown when things were going awry in the third set. Despite only two games away from winning the match, the Aussie was finally broken following constant verbal bickering with his box, before being docked a penalty point from a second code violation for smashing his racquet into the court.
This lack of discipline -- which must be addressed should the Aussie seek a grand slam win -- arguably cost him the match. Kyrgios made 68 unforced errors to Seppi's 36.
Kyrgios managed to regain composure in the fifth to what Australia hoped was a third round berth if not for Seppi's fearless forehand winner at match point in the 17th game, before breaking serve and sending the Aussie home.
It was a "banged up body" and a lack of preparation and the "poor management" of his "team" during the offseason that led to tonight's performance, Kyrgios told reporters post match, though it's the mental side of the game that's letting him down.
"Mental side of things are big for me, that's where a coach would be good," Kyrgios said after noting he's the only player in the top 100 without one.
"But, I mean, he played well, as well. (I) Thought he served great today.
"I've got a lot of respect for him. He fights hard. He deserved it."
Kyrgios has been seeing a sports psychologist to combat his mental demons, though Wednesday night's loss might just be the impetus to finally fill the coaching void. Asked if he had a particular one in mind, Kyrgios declined to answer.
Australia hasn't won its home Grand Slam since Mark Edmondson defeated fellow compatriot John Newcombe to lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in 1976. Australia's Chris O' Neill was the last female champion to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup on home soil in 1978.
Australia's Bernard Tomic remains an outside chance to progress to the second week after taking the first two sets against Victor Estrella Burgos from the Dominican republic. At 2342 local time (AEDT), scores were level at 4-4 in the fourth set, with Tomic leading 7-5, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 4-4. Enditem
