Nick Kyrgios has set up a tantalising third-round Australian Open showdown with former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after rolling Serbian Viktor Troicki.
There were shades of a 2017 Andrea Seppi second-round stumble when Kyrgios surrendered a two-sets-to-love lead when the top-ranked Australian failed to deliver on a match point and then handed a break to Troicki.
But the Australian showed his growing maturity to level at 6-6 before dominating the tiebreak in a 7-5 6-4 7-6 (7-2) victory on Wednesday night.
Before that late hiccup, the world No.17 was seemingly more troubled by a series of bizarre interruptions at Hisense Arena than by veteran Troicki.
A heckler was escorted out by security early in the second set after yelling near the Kyrgios box while filming himself, and then a helicopter hovered overhead for two games to the annoyance of the Australian.
Kyrgios then complained about feedback from the umpire's microphone, with Brit James Keothavong resorting to turning it off and shouting the score.
"It was a strange one; it was tough with a lot of things going on," Kyrgios said.
"I know that Vik is a fighter and I knew I had to stick to my guns.
"He broke me back when I was serving for the match and I started freaking out and I just kind of tried to hold serve and tried to work it out in the breaker.
"I got lucky but it was tough match and I am happy to get through."
Kyrgios set up the win on the back of some booming forehands and another superb serving display, barrelling down 17 aces and only dropping only 11 points on his first serves landed.
Troicki's first break point didn't come until the second game of the third set, but the 31-year-old - who eliminated Aussie wildcard Alex Bolt in five sets in round one - was unable to convert.
Kyrgios nailed the first set with an ace and then backed it up to break Troicki in the first game of the second.
The dogged Troicki however refused to lay down, setting up the intriguing finale to the match.
Kyrgios has only face world No.15 Tsonga once previously, with the Frenchman securing the win last year in Marseille in three sets.
Tsonga, 32, made the Open final back in 2008, which he lost to Novak Djokovic.
Kyrgios said Tsonga was one of his "idols" and he would be up for the challenge.
"He is a good friend of mine," the home hope said.
"We played one time and it was a close three-set battle so I am looking forward to it."
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