The crowd inside the Rod Laver Arena was in for a show today when Nick Kyrgios battled Daniil Medvedev. The two stars met in the second round of the Australian Open, and the excitement was palpable.

Even though Medvedev won the match in four sets, it wasn’t quite as easy an achievement for the Russian as the scorecard makes it out to be. Kyrgios, the underdog entering the match, enjoyed home support and seemed determined to put on a show.

On the other hand, Medvedev remained stoic through every serve and rally, standing his ground against a hostile crowd.

Nick Kyrgios can’t stop swearing about Medvedev’s serve

Both players put up an absolute clinic of serving today, with Kyrgios serving 17 aces. Moreover, it was Daniil who served almost twice that, with 31 phenomenal aces in the match.

Despite losing, Kyrgios is quite proud of what he achieved in today’s match as well. Moreover, he even expressed his confidence in his own game and skill that he brought to the arena today. “If I play 95% of people tonight on that court, I think I win,” Kyrgios claimed.

Going into the match, everyone expected Kyrgios to do what he does best- overwhelm opponents with his powerful first serve. However, they, along with Nick Kyrgios himself, were in for a surprise, when the World No. 2 player calmly began setting the ball ablaze with his own aces and indomitable first serves.

ALSO READ: ‘Don’t Ruin It’: Nick Kyrgios Fumes Over Chair Umpire During Match Against Daniil Medvedev at Australian Open 2022

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Kyrgios happened to have no reply to those, as Daniil charted up a whopping tally of 31 aces. So much so, that towards the end of his presser, when asked what he’d be having for dinner, Kyrgios had nothing but the Russian’s serve on his mind. “I don’t know man. F***ing… Daniil’s serve, straight down my throat,” the 26-year-old star said.

Kyrgios wants people to embrace his ‘different energy’

The world knows Nick Kyrgios for his showmanship, antics, and outbursts. While many have called his behavior an embarrassment to tennis’ usual gentlemanly conduct, there are just as many who adore his style.

“That’s what sport is,” Kyrgios said in his presser. Calling himself “the most entertaining player, playing in his home Slam at Rod Laver,” Kyrgios said that the crowd’s electric behavior was to be expected.

Then, Kyrgios talked about how his antics veer off from the usual behavior of the average tennis star. “I understand it’s a gentleman’s game, but it’s about time that people embraced some sort of different energy in the sport,” he said.

“Otherwise, it (tennis) will die out. It’s just that simple,” Nick Kyrgios said, quite matter-of-factly. What are your thoughts on Kyrgios’ unique showmanship in the sport? Would you welcome more players putting on displays of emotions like the Aussie star?

WATCH THIS STORY: From Drinking Fan’s Beer to His Iconic Tweener: Nick Kyrgios Puts Up a Crazy Show at Australian Open 2022