Forget Roger Federer: the four-time champion's shock loss has set the stage for Nick Kyrgios to become the first teenager to reach the Australian Open men's quarter-finals in a quarter of a century.
Kyrgios had been priming himself for a blockbuster fourth-round showdown with Federer on Sunday night.
But the 19-year-old's initial disappointment at his idol's demise has given way to the realisation that a last-eight place in the draw is now staring him in the face.
Instead of Federer, Kyrgios will square off against Andreas Seppi, an Italian journeyman ranked No.46 in the world and who Australia's boom youngster took down in straight sets at last year's US Open.
"Obviously I'd rather play Seppi than Federer, of course," Kyrgios said.
"But I know it's going to be a really tough match.
"At the US Open, that was a really, really tough match. I probably played the best tennis I played in my life. I need to be ready again."
Underlining his enormous potential, Kyrgios is striving to become the first teenager since Andrei Cherkasov in 1990 to make the final eight at Melbourne Park.
Kyrgios, though, admits he craved a crack at Federer as much as an easier route to the quarter-finals.
"It's hard not to think about playing possibly the greatest of all time," Kyrgios said.
"Everyone wants to play Roger. I can only dream about what Seppi is feeling right now, to beat him in four sets on Rod Laver (Arena).
"That's massive for him. But I get to play another great guy that's been on tour for a long, long time."
It didn't take Seppi's career-defining win over the 17-time grand slam champion to place Kyrgios on high alert to the Italian's capabilities.
Despite the straight-sets scoreline at Flushing Meadows, Kyrgios had to pull out all stops to prevail.
"I served really well in New York," Kyrgios said.
"I have obviously got to be serving top notch to give myself a chance.
"In that match I was really solid from the back and I was playing aggressive.
"I think he knows what to expect. I know what's coming, as well. I think it's going to be a fun match."
Kyrgios withdrew from the season-opening Hopman Cup with a back complaint and again needed treatment during his third-round win over Malek Jaziri on Friday night.
But the Wimbledon quarter-finalist vowed to soldier on.
"It's pretty painful," Kyrgios said.
"It definitely does affect me when I'm out there. I'm definitely not moving as well as I'd like to be.
"I'm obviously getting by. There's worse things in the world.
"Sometimes I can feel it when I walk; when I sit down it's there.
"But I'm not going to complain about it. I mean, I'm in the fourth round of the Australian Open. Let's be happy right now."
NICK KYRGIOS (AUS) leads ANDREAS SEPPI (ITA) 1-0
2014 US Open, hard, R64, Kyrgios 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-4
NICK KYRGIOS
Age: 19
Ranking: 53
Career-high ranking: 50 (2015)
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US768,112 ($A953,347)
Career titles: 0
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 4-1
Best Australian Open performance: 4th round 2015
ANDREAS SEPPI (ITA)
Age: 30
Ranking: 46
Career-high ranking: 18 (2013)
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US6,397,691 ($A7.94 million)
Career titles: 3
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 11-9
Best Australian Open performances: 4th round 2013, 2015
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