Greek -Australian Nick Kyrgios has paid the ultimate price for a late-match toilet break, failing to capitalise on two match points in a jarring loss to fellow prodigy Elias Ymer at the Barcelona Open.
Seeded 16th, Kyrgios twice had the match on his racquet but could not dispatch 19-year-old Ymer before losing 2-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7).
Ymer claimed post-match Kyrgios’ decision to have a toilet break midway through the third set when 4-1 up snapped the Australian’s momentum.
“I just kept competing. He went to the toilet when I was 4-1 down and it broke his momentum,” Ymer said.
Regarded as the best young Swedish prospect in a generation, Ymer trailed 30-40 in the 10th game of the second set and rallied from 1-4 down in the third before saving a second match point at 5-6 in the tiebreak.
“Playing Nick is always going to be so tough,” Ymer said.
“He’s the one who showed us it’s possible to play against the big guys.
“He inspired me a lot when he reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year. I know him well.
“In juniors we played together all the time. It’s the first time I’ve won two matches on the ATP World Tour.
Ranked 192nd in the world, Ymer already has played Davis Cup for his country.
Ymer is attempting to follow in the illustrious footsteps of grand slam champions Bjorn Bjorg, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg and Thomas Johansson.
Ymer has two younger brothers whom the Swedes hope will rekindle their dormant game.
The teenager upset Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker with a three-set win in the opening in Barcelona.
Seeded 16th and, like Ymer, a wildcard invitee, Kyrgios had not played since injuring his leg against Romanian Grigor Dimitrov in Indian Wells in March.
The Canberran also lost in first-round doubles with Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.
Ymer next faces Spanish third seed David Ferrer
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