Nick Kyrgios was knocked out of his home Grand Slam as he blew a two-set lead and a match point in losing to Andrea Seppi at the Australian Open.
Italy’s Seppi triumphed 1-6 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-2 10-8 in round two against the typically unpredictable Australian.
Kyrgios was given two warnings, for swearing and racquet abuse, before the 89th-ranked Seppi clinched victory.
Earlier, four-time winner Roger Federer held off the challenge of American prospect Noah Rubin.
The 35-year-old Swiss, who is seeded 17th after missing the second half of the 2016 season with a knee injury, saved two set points in the third to win 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-3). Federer will play 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych in the third round.
Elsewhere, fifth seed Kei Nishikori overcame France’s Jeremy Chardy.
The 27-year-old from Japan, who has reached the quarter-finals in the past two years, came through 6-3 6-4 6-3 in two hours six minutes to set up a meeting with Slovak qualifier Lukas Lacko.
Nishikori is seeded to meet Britain’s Andy Murray in the last eight.
Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka brushed aside American Steve Johnson 6-3 6-4 6-4, while France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also came through in straight sets, against Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.
Federer experience proves key
Federer is attempting to defy a difficult draw and a lack of preparation to become the second oldest male Grand Slam winner in the Open era.
If he is to add to his 17 major titles, he will have to pass more testing examinations than that posed by world number 200 Rubin, but Federer admitted he had leaned on his experience against the 20-year-old.
“I have played out here many, many times, that’s my advantage maybe,” he said, after claiming victory in two hours four minutes.
“If I could have signed (a contract) to be in the third round, feeling this way, weeks or days or a month ago, I would have taken it.
“I’m still hoping to feel better and better and better as we go along.”
Federer beat Berdych in straight sets in last year’s quarter-finals in Melbourne, but has lost to the Czech in the US Open and at Wimbledon.
“I’m sure he would like to beat me here too,” added Federer.
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