It had been billed as the match of the day. Some were billing it as the match of the tournament so far: the mercurial talents of Nick Kyrgios against the more traditional – but equally as explosive – skills of Stefanos Tsitsipas.

It was the hottest ticket in town. And it did not disappoint.

Kyrgios, in his own inimitable style, beat Tsitsipas 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(7). But that was not even the half of it.

“It was an amazing atmosphere and a hell of a match,” Kyrgios said.

“I honestly felt like the favourite coming in – I played him a couple of weeks ago. But I knew that it was going to be a tough match. He’s a hell of a player and I had my own tactics out there. He knew how to play me; he’s beaten me once before.

“I’m just super-happy to be through. He was getting frustrated out there and it’s a frustrating sport at times, that’s for sure. I’ve got ultimate respect for him. Whatever happens on the court, I love him.”

When he beat Jordan Thompson to set up this mouth-watering encounter, Tsitsipas smiled. Ah, Nick. Yes, he is an incredible player, the Greek agreed – “when he wants to be.”

History records that he usually wants to against Tsitsipas. In their four previous meetings, Kyrgios had won three times, most recently on the grass in Halle a couple of weeks ago. But would he want to on Saturday? Who knew?

When he feels ready to commit to a spell on the road, he will work and he will train and he will play. And when he is playing well, he is all but untouchable.

But there are also times when he needs time to be himself and to be with those he holds most dear. That is his choice and it is not for anyone to tell him he is wrong.

He also admitted to the Tennis Channel here that he has not played at his best when his beloved Boston Celtics have lost a match in the NBA. But as Kyrgios also pointed out: “Unlucky for Stef the [NBA] season is over.”

The Kyrgios fuse was lit after just three games (and three break points missed for the Australian). He started chuntering away to himself about something that had irritated him. It got worse – a lot worse – over a line call at 5-5 and continued to burn into the tie-break.

At the business end of that, a line judge at the back of the court reported Kyrgios to the umpire, Damien Dumusois, for using some agricultural language.

That did not go down well with the Australian. And so it went on: one perceived injustice after another.

When he was reported for a second time for a clear obscenity, he got an official warning from the chair. That sparked another extended monologue from the world No.40.

But then just when it appeared that the “I don’t want to” Kyrgios had come to play, he would rip another stunning winner past Tsitsipas’s flailing racket.

The forehand that he conjures out of nothing and sends flying; the second serve that is, to all intents and purposes, another first serve and the return that seems to be sent back over the net faster than it arrived.

Meanwhile, Tsitsipas was quietly going about his business. He left Kyrgios to get on with his grumbling and complaining and took the opening set by dint of taking care of matters on his side of the court. He knew not to expect anything of his opponent – he was impossible to second guess.

Kyrgios was also trying to set a new record for service games. He barely gave the ball boys and girls time to get back to their stations before he was half way through his service action. Poor Tsitsipas virtually had to sprint to the other side of the court to be there in time to receive.

And then Kyrgios broke the Tsitsipas serve to take the second set.

The Greek was furious with himself and swatted the ball away and into the crowd. For that, he got a warning. Cue Kyrgios demanding that his opponent be defaulted. When he got no joy from Dumusois, he demanded to see the supervisor. And when he got no joy from Andreas Egli (the requested supervisor), he delivered the immortal line: “Bring me more supervisors!”

The supervisors came and they lined up at the back of the court waiting for the next outburst. Totally against the laws of logic, that outburst came from Tsitsipas. Foiled by another underarm serve from Kyrgios, he chased in and belted the ball away wildly to earn himself a point penalty for his fit of pique.

By this stage, Kyrgios was a break to the good and was finally beginning to quieten down. Just to add to his rival’s woes, the Australian was winning points from any place he chose on the court – including two consecutive netcords – and he was winning the third set.

In between the pantomime, the flashpoints and the code violations, a really decent tennis match was desperately trying to make its presence felt.

Kyrgios has one of the best serves in the business; Tsitsipas does not have the best of returns. Tsitsipas has a forehand that can split concrete; Kyrgios has a temper that can curdle milk. The combination made for some sensational shot making and a truly fascinating duel.

As if the match did not have enough drama already, there was a brief pause at 4-4 in the fourth set as the roof was closed due to bad light. When they got back to work, Tsitsipas seemed rejuvenated while Kyrgios was a little flat. But he still had that huge serve to bail him out of trouble.

No matter what Tsitsipas tried or how distracted Kyrgios became, the Australian could always rely on that sledgehammer first blow of his to save the day. It kept him in the fourth set and took it to a tie-break. And once there, the big man’s touch and imagination got him through to the fourth round on his second match point.

We can do all of this again on Monday when Kyrgios takes on Brandon Nakashima.

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