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Nick Kyrgios stages stunning comeback toreach Australian Open quarters

Kyrgios wins ve-set thriller 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 8-6Will meet Andy Murray for a place in the semi-nal

Nick Kyrgios clawed his way back from the brink of defeat to book a place in the Australian Open quarter-nals. Photograph: RobGrith/AP

Australian Associated PressSunday 25 January 2015 11.36 GMT

Nick Kyrgios saved a match point in an exhilarating comeback win to become the youngestAustralian Open mens quarter-nalist in almost a quarter of a century.

Kyrgios overcame a back injury and a two-set decit to somehow conjure a 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 8-6 fourth-round triumph over Andreas Seppi at Melbourne Park on Sunday night.

The colossal ghtback over Roger Federers conqueror captivated fans at Hisense Arena andcatapulted the 19-year-old into a last-eight showdown on Tuesday with dual grand slamchampion Andy Murray.

Kyrgios is the rst Australian since Lleyton Hewitt lost the title match to Marat San adecade ago to make the mens Open quarter-nals - and, underlining his enormouspotential, the rst teenager to do so since Andrei Cherkasov in 1990.

Contesting just his seventh grand slam event, the Canberra sensation is also the rstteenager to make the last eight of two majors since the great Federer.

His mobility restricted and explosive power diminished, Kyrgios obliterated a racquet atone point, such was his frustration at being unable to compete at full capacity early on.Leave feedback

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Seppi won the opening set after breaking Kyrgios to love in the 11th game. Kyrgios grewmore and more frustrated as he squandered multiple break points in the fourth game of thesecond set, almost apologetically telling spectators: Im trying man. I cant walk, though.

After fending o a break point in the fth game, Kyrgios couldnt hold the Italian out againand found himself in a deep, deep hole after dropping serve for a second time in the ninthgame - and then the second set.

But Kyrgios began to mount his stirring ghtback as his back appeared to free up in thethird set, which the Australian claimed after breaking Seppi for the rst time.

Games in the fourth set went to serve before Seppi earned his match point in a tension-lled tiebreaker. Showing ice-cool nerves, Kyrgios thundered down a 201km/h ace to keephis Open hopes alive. Kyrgios then unleashed a withering backhand winner down the lineon his rst set point to force the decider.

Australias last hope followed up with a vicious down-the-line forehand winner to breakSeppi again to seemingly have the veteran on the ropes.

But he inexplicably dropped serve to love in an alarming run of 12 straight points to Seppi,who drew level at 4-4 and then had a break point to give himself the opportunity to serveout the match. Kyrgios again crunched an ace under untold pressure.

Kyrgios completed his second win from two sets down - after staving o nine match pointsagainst Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon last year - after three hours and 34 minutes whenSeppi wilted and dropped serve to love in the 14th game of the epic nal set.

It feels so good, Kyrgios said. This is my favourite court Ive ever played on.