Nick Kyrgios has huffed and puffed his way into the second round of the US Open in New York.
The mercurial Australian spent much of the match complaining of fatigue before pulling through 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-2 against Moldovan baseliner Radu Albot.
“I knew it was going tough match. I’m just happy I got through it,” Kyrgios said.
The labouring win set up a meeting with Pierre-Hugues Herbert, with the victor likely to run into five-times champion Roger Federer in the third round.
But the dual grand slam quarter-finalist will likely need to lift his game against the Frenchman, a capable opponent who he retired against at Wimbledon last year.
“He’s got a big serve. He’s beaten me before. So it’s going to be tough,” Kyrgios said.
“But right now I just want to get something to eat. I’m hungry.”
After sauntering through the opening set on Tuesday night, recovering from a service break down, Kyrgios collapsed in the second, constantly moaning to his players’ box during changeovers.
“I’m fucked, my legs are f***ed. I’m cooked, I’m f***ing done. I can’t play,” he said while seemingly clutching at his calf.
He later said such antics “keep me relaxed”.
But, after a series of mid-match retirements over the past two years, the writing looked on the wall when Kyrgios dropped the second set and offered the world No.95 another break-point opportunity early in the third.
But he emerged from his malaise, breaking Albot after luring him to the net with a casual tweener, then firing a forehand pass cross court.
Kyrgios carried the momentum into the fourth set, breaking Albot twice more to charge ahead 4-0 before sealing victory on Louis Armstrong Stadium after two hours and 20 minutes.