British number one Andy Murray went into his last-eight contest with Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open looking to book his place in a semi-final clash with Tomas Berdych.
Murray was a clear favourite over the Australian underdog and he made relatively light work of the 19-year-old with a straight-sets victory over the crowd favourite in Melbourne.
Follow how the game at the Rod Laver Arena developed by reading our minute-by-minute updates below.
Good morning and welcome to the live commentary of Australian Open quarter-final match between Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios.
The British number one looked in good form in his win over Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round of the competition as he claimed victory in four sets over the man who beat him in the last eight of Wimbledon last year.
The Scot will be eyeing reaching his fifth semi-final in the competition where Tomas Berdych awaits following his victory over Rafael Nadal earlier today. Murray has advanced to the final of the tournament three times, but has yet to lift Grand Slam, which he will be determined to put right this year.
For Murray to reach the last eight he will have to overcome Kyrgios, who showed excellent fighting spirit to battle back to defeat Andreas Seppi in five sets to book his place in the matchup against the Scot.
The 19-year-old will be looking to become the first Australian to reach a semi-final of a Grand Slam in 10 years. Kyrgios will be looking to do that in front of his home crowd. No pressure! However, he has shown in the past that he is more than capable of knocking big names out of tournaments, having sent Rafael Nadal crashing out of Wimbledon last year in the fourth round.
The Australian's game is based around is his big-serving ability, which can give even top players in the world a lot of difficulty if it becomes consistent throughout the match. So there is more than enough for Murray to be cautious about today, if he is to advance to the last four.
Murray has admitted that the Australian crowd could play a huge part in the game for Kyrgios, as he knows from his experiences at Wimbledon.
He told reporters: "Obviously the crowd will be right behind him, understandably so. They're going to watch him play a lot of matches like this over the next 10, 15 years probably, and that's just something that I'll have to deal with in my way.
"I've played a lot of matches. I've played in the French Open against French players where the crowd can be very difficult. I've experienced it before, so hopefully I'll deal with it well."
It's been fun tonight with y'all, but I will now leave you in the hands of Chris Dodd who will guide you through the final match of the day. Over to you Chris!
Thanks Simon, morning all! We're in for a real treat, especially with Kyrgios playing in front of such a doting home crowd. The teenager will have to be careful not to let the expectation or weight of the event get to him, though. The 19-year-old was a little too showman-like in his victory over Seppi recently. I doubt Murray will give him that much of a chance to play if his concentration is constantly in and out like it was on Sunday.
That said, Kyrgios certainly has the tools at his disposal to create an upset. Murray at times struggled with Dimitrov's power from the baseline, and today's opponent has a strong forehand too. Murray will need to be selective in how he lets Kyrgios play from the back of the court. Another option for the Scot would be to force the youngster into long rallies, with the Australian's focus sometimes waning during back-and-forths.
Tiredness shouldn't be too much of a concern despite the long hours this pair have put in thus far. They'll have some cooler conditions in Melbourne this evening.
This will basically be like facing each other for the first time to be honest. Kyrgios and Murray have only met once, which was in a lower round in Canada some time ago. You might be thinking this could be relatively simple for Murray given his experience against today's underdog, but Kyrgios is yet to play on the Rod Laver Arena and he could pack a surprise under the watchful eye of the Australian fans.
Having faced Murray in the Toronto Masters last year, Kyrgios believes that he can use the experience to establish a winning game-plan in this tie. Here's what he's had to say ahead of the game:
"There were some things that I did in that match which I believe will work. I've learnt stuff from playing against him there and at the [International Premier Tennis League] and watching him a bit. Stuff that I feel I can use and exploit in his game."
We've got some tactics in play already in Melbourne. Kyrgios is already wanting to get out onto the court, but Murray is making him wait just that little bit longer.
Both players are in the waiting room off-court. Kyrgios with headphones on, presumably listening to something inspiring, while Murray is stoney-faced and seeming focused.
The pair are making their way down the hall to reach the court now, and they have not looked at each other once as they pass some sort of installation showcasing inspiring champions of the past. Will one of these win it this year? Well, a semi-final awaits for just one of them.
The coin has been tossed and Andy is forced to serve, with Kyrgios returning first up. Perhaps a psyche-out from the toss-winning Aussie? Murray usually likes to return on the first play, but the 19-year-old has taken that option away from him.
The players are just going through their respective warm-ups now as we await the start of the contest. Personally, I think Murray is going to rattle through this in straight sets - but let's hope Kyrgios makes us all wait longer. I guess we all love an upset!
First point goes to Kyrgios as Murray struggles on a rally-return, and he's undone again as the Aussie crashes back from a cheeky chip to make it 30-0, but Murray notches two wonderful serves to make bring things level. The Scot takes it with an ace winner.
This has got the makings of an early examination from both opponents. Kyrgios serves well to take a 40-0 lead and Murray has no answer to the speed. His final serve has Murray worried and the Scot can't make the second return as he hits the net. Point goes to Kyrgios, comfortably.
More strong service comes from the Scot this time as he pushes into a 40-0 advantage, with Murray claiming another point through an ace and a backhand error from Kyrgios.
Kyrgios is back, though, and he looks to settle with another service winner followed by a strong forehand smash to make it 30-0, before another service winner brings it to 40-0. Murray sends a smart return to let his opponent know that he's awake, while he grabs another 15 by forcing Kyrgios into an error. The 19-year-old wraps up the game with a strong serve that sees Murray loop a return out of the court.
Murray opens with a strong forehand down to the back-corner, though Kyrgios forces him into an error to bring parity. Kyrgios is a little wasteful with his next return, which is called out at the back. Another error gives Murray the chance to serve for the game, which he does with a superb service that does for the Australian.
BREAK! Kyrgios opens with a wonderful ace to give himself more confidence. Murray cuts into the net with another silly error as the score moves to 30-0., but he's back into the game with a strong forehand that wrong-foots the youngster, who soon smashes into the net too leaving things level. Another error sets up the break point, but deuce is called after a wonderful serve from Kyrgios. Murray returns cleverly to force another error and bring another break chance, which he grabs by forcing Kyrgios into an error with some soft-ball tactics.
A smart ace leaves Kyrgios perplexed at 40-15, with Murray stepping up to claim another game with a service winner. The Scot is really getting into his stride now and is looking as focused as ever.
Kyrgios is serving for the chance to prevent Murray from taking the first set, while another break for Murray puts him ahead in the contest. Some sloppy tennis at 40-40 sees Murray take the advantage after a deuce, before the Scotsman challenges well against a serve call to keep ahead. The next play sees things move back to deuce as Murray fires out of the court. The Aussie then moves ahead this time by forcing an error, but is pegged back by Murray. After a long back-and-forth of advantage and deuce, a resurgent Kyrgios wins with a strong forehand effort.
SET TO MURRAY! Chance to serve for the set now. Easy opener with Kyrgios's backhand coming up short, with more strong tennis leading to a service winner that sees Andy 40-15 ahead. Another poor backhand from the Australian gives Murray the set, as he celebrates with the tiniest of air punches.
Smart work from the Australian sees him move into a 40-0 lead, but Murray grabs his opening points by forcing an out error at the baseline. The Scotsman takes it to 40-30 as Kyrgios gives him a pass. However, the 19-year-old takes the game as Murray is forced into a backhand error.
The serve favours Murray on this occasion with a service winner putting the sixth seed ahead at 30-15. A dramatic exchange at the net eventually sees Murray grab a further lead with a wonderful chip, that forces Kyrgios to thrash the ball into the crowd where somebody takes a belter of a catch. Murray grabs the game by forcing a forehand issue for Kyrgios.
Murray opens with a standout return down the line to open the scoring and some poor tennis sees Kyrgios chuck the ball out the back of the court to put Murray further ahead. An ace brings Kyrgios closer to his opponent before a forehand and ace sees the Aussie 40-30 ahead. Kyrgios drops the lead with an error, while a backhand then puts Murray in front. The Australian goes into an advantage following two good shots, but Murray is back with another great forehand. An ace gives Kyrgios another lead, which he drops as Murray throws a cheeky volley to sell the youngster short. Kyrgios finally wins the game via a Murray forehand error.
An exchange of unforced errors sees a stalemate at 30-30, before Murray moves to 40-30 when Kyrgios crashes a poor backhand into the net when the forehand was easily on the cards. Murray wins with a good ace.
Kyrgios opens to win off the rally with a delightful chip over the net that leaves Murray short. The Scot is level when he pushes the Aussie back and he can't return as his shot hits the net. Murray's next return is a looper that flies out of the court with Kyrgios working the forehand to good effect. His next serve sees Murray unable to return and he soon takes the lead again as Murray sends the ball out on the return.
Wonderful service from Murray sees him race through the next game with Kyrgios unable to score. The winner comes via a particularly good forehand that musters no reply from the young man,
Things are getting a little more interesting now. Kyrgios moves into a 40-30 lead and he completes the game when Murray crashes a return into the crowd. It was set up by some clever by from the Australian who rushed the net before returning a belter that left the Scot scrambling to make ground.
More great work from Murray now who shows his class to collect his seventh ace. Clean as a whistle with another love game that sees the British number one pull level at 4-4.
Special hands from Kyrgios who makes it 40-0 with a chip across the court. Game is called with a standout ace. These games are rattling past us. Can the Aussie break to take the set?
Murray is back without showing any signs of nerves as he completes two love games in a row. He's only lost eight points on serve in the match. 5-5...
The Scot has the chance to level things at 15-15, but he rushes the net and smashes beyond the baseline... poor tennis. Murray is then wrong-footed following a long rally, which allows Kyrgios to lead 40-0. Murray grabs one back, though, as more rallying sees Andy pull the cutter and the Australian throws a return into the net. More clever work from the Scot stops Kyrgios returning from deep. An audacious cut of his own, this time at real pace, gives the youngster the game. What a shot!
Murray is in full control back on his serve. Some soft-ball control allows him to take a 40-0 before an ace gives him the game. We're into the tie-break now...
Murray 1-0 Kyrgios
Murray 2-0 Kyrgios
Murray 2-1 Kyrgios
Murray 2-2 Kyrgios
Murray 2-3 Kyrgios - The Aussie moves ahead in the break following some resurgent tennis that sees him overcome Murray with a strong backhand.
Murray 2-4 Kyrgios
Murray 3-4 Kyrgios
Murray 4-4 Kyrgios
Murray 5-4 Kyrgios
Murray 5-5 Kyrgios - Double fault from Murray lets Kyrgios back in.
Murray 6-5 Kyrgios - Massive kicker on the serve from Murray and Kyrgios is unable to return as his shot flies into the crowd.
SET FOR MURRAY! Murray 7-5 Kyrgios - Fantastic lob over Kyrgios to claim the break and the set. The Australian will need to come back from two down again to win this match.
Murray opens with a strong point on the serve, but his opponent is back with a cross-court smash to make it 15-15. Murray rushes the net and forces Kyrgios to belt wide. It's soon game Murray with a strong serve to bring up an ace and take a 1-0 lead in the third set.
Clever forehand work puts Kyrgios into a 40-15 lead. Murray produces some lacklustre stuff on the return, which flies out of the back of the court and Kyrgios takes the game.
The Scot has worked the service incredibly well this morning and he continues with another strong showing that puts him 40-15 ahead with an ace. Murray takes the game with a forehand winner that does for Kyrgios.
Kyrgios displaying some real fight. He produces one of the shots of the game to take it to 40-0, with a splice down the line. He wraps up a love game with an ace.
The Aussie continues to show why he's loved so much as he takes Murray to love thirty off the Scot's serve. Murray senses the danger and works on a rushed chip from the net that Kyrgios can't get to. It's soon 30-30 after a forehand error from the 19-year-old. Murray moves in front with a dash that wrong-foots Kyrgios. Another game for Murray with a service that is returned into the foot of the net. Kyrgios is looking perturbed.
BREAK! Kyrgios works the serve well at 30-0, but then tries to pull off something silly through the legs. He comes back to make it 40-15, however, with a forehand smash a little closer to the net. Murray throws some class back with a backhand down the line, which he really steps into with some welly. Parity is reached at 40-40 when the Aussie needlessly sends one into the net. Advantage Murray with a forehand winner, but Kyrgios shows spirit with good service. Murray with the advantage again, and he finally seals the break with another great lob that sets up a chipped winner at the middle.
BREAK! You sense that the Australian is on the ropes at the minute, but he's continuing to fight. He opens up with something special down the line to make it 30-15, only for Murray to rush the net and pull level. The Scot offers up a lifeline for Kyrgios to break, though he's level again at 40-40 with a comical forehand smash at the net. Murray slips up next and finds the net as Kyrgios has the advantage. Poor stuff from Murray who chips into the partition and Kyrgios breaks!
BREAK! Adroit manoeuvring from Kyrgios leaves him ahead at 30-15. A fantastic defence from Murray allows him to climb back on level terms after staving off an intense rally. The Aussie's serve is too strong for Murray this time and his reply doesn't make it over the middle. Deuce is reached when Kyrgios fires out the back of the court, before Murray gets the chance at a break point as he lashes past his on-rushing opponent. Murray seals the break when Kyrgios sends a return into the net. The British number one is now serving for a place in the final...
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Murray backs himself to deliver with some service that has left him looking in the driving seat all morning in Melbourne. He sets up to win the contest with two strong forehands in a row to book a place in the semis...
Just as I said.... Straight-sets win for Murray. He looked in fantastic form throughout that encounter - a truly terrific night's work for the Scot. Kyrgios will certainly learn a lot from this game, but he goes tumbling out of the tournament. Murray will now face Tomas Berdych in the semi-final stage.
