AFP, BRISBANE: Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson gave Australia an unexpected 2-0 lead after the first day of their Davis Cup quarter-final against the United States in Brisbane on Friday.
The unheralded Thompson stunned world number 15 Jack Sock in four sets in the opening rubber before Kyrgios saw off the big-serving John Isner 7-5, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5).
Only 10 times in Davis Cup history has a country come back from being 0-2 down to win a tie, the most recent when Croatia recovered to beat the US at this stage last year.
Kyrgios was superb against Isner, a tough opponent who has one of the biggest serves in world tennis.
The controversial Australian pushed Roger Federer to the brink in Miami last week and he carried that form into Friday's match. Despite a slow start when he went down 3-0 in the opening set, Kyrgios recovered quickly and was always slightly on top of Isner.
He read the American's serve brilliantly and had the edge from the baseline, coming back from 2-5 down in the third set tiebreak to take a high quality match in two hours, 25 minutes.
Kyrgios credited his recent good form with a change in attitude on court. “I'm trying to knuckle down and compete for every point and that's something I haven't done in the past,” he said.
“My level's always been there but my mentality is a lot better.
“I'm still very emotional out there. I'll still challenge the umpire, I'll still say what I think, I'll still throw my racket, I'll still swear, but I'll compete every point.