Tomas Berdych overcomes Nick Kyrgios challenge

Omnisports 11:32 - 22 January 2016

___4593382___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___4593382___2016___1___22___16___tomasberdych-cropped_jk8khgqnutcc19koyq23npmjr

Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych battled past Nick Kyrgios in four sets to reach the last 16 of the Australian Open.

Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych battled past Nick Kyrgios in four sets to reach the last 16 of the Australian Open on Friday.

Berdych appeared to be cruising after winning the first two sets but endured a blip in the third before eventually recovering to triumph 6-3 6-4 1-6 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.

Maligned Australian youngster Kyrgios, known for his erratic on-court behaviour, lost his way late in the second set and at the start of the third as he launched a tirade toward the umpire after complaining of music in the crowd.

But at the other end, two-time Australian Open semi-finalist Berdych kept his composure to earn a sixth successive fourth-round appearance at Melbourne Park.

Kyrgios has always enjoyed the big stage, having already claimed the scalps of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic in his brief time on the ATP Tour.

However, Kyrgios faced a different proposition in the form of the ever-efficient Berdych, who capitalised on a lapse in concentration to earn an early break at 3-1, which he never relinquished in the opening set.

The second set followed a similar pattern, though it was not until the seventh game that Berdych make the breakthrough with a forehand winner on Kyrgios' serve.

Under the pump and out of sorts, Kyrgios then directed his anger at the umpire after music was heard in the crowd before Berdych raced out to a two-sets-to-love lead.

And while Kyrgios continued to be irked by issues off-court, he soon regained his composure to somehow send the match into a fourth set.

It only delayed the inevitable, though, as Berdych earned a showdown with Roberto Bautista Agut with a late break.