Image source, getty

Yes, that's bugs being swept up off the court!

Ajla Tomljanovic seems to be finding her range again, superb drop shot followed by a punchy winner to get the crowd on their feet. 0-30.

Another huge ace from the Australian, pick that out. And then a brilliant rally, what a point and it's Ajla Tomljanovic who takes it with a sweeping forehand winner that draws a gasp from the crowd.

A big, big hold.

I mean... incredible. Nick Kyrgios overruns the ball as he races across the baseline and somehow gets it back by sticking his racquet back behind him.

You can't criticise his entertainment value. That was on the way to a hold of serve.

More big hitting from Tomljanovic but the Australian jabs long from the baseline to hand Halep the slight advantage. 15-30. She squares things off with an ace that just clips the line.

Simona Halep wraps up the hold with an ace. All square in the deciding set.

Still Kyrgios is not happy with the net calling system and chunters to umpire Marijana Veljovic at the end of the set.

She grabs the walkie-talkie from her hip and has a word with some tech dude as she surveys the net.

Humbert leaves them to it and goes for a bathroom break.

Another wonderful rally as Tomljanovic showcases that impressive drop shot, getting Halep sprinting into the net before picking her off with a stabbed winner. 30-30.

Roll up, roll up. Welcome to the Nick Kyrgios Show.

Kyrgios refocuses to clinch the second set and does a 180 degree jump - punching through the Melbourne air at the same time- in celebration.

Absolute rocking in the John Cain Arena.

Image source, Getty Images

Here we go! The drama goes up several notches.

Not one, but two, let calls annoy Nick Kyrgios.

"Turn the machine off! It's ruining the game. Do you not understand that?" he tells umpire Marijana Veljovic after the first one.

Then there is another one! Unbelievable.

"Turn it off. It is this far over the net!"

Image source, EPA

Just long from Halep, who can't help but smile. But Tomljanovic double faults to hand Halep the break.

Ajla Tomljanovic just has a bemused look towards her box after Simona Halep suddenly crunches through the gears to make it 0-30.

The Australian is forced deep and digs a backhand into the net. Three break back points.

Wow! Even Nick Kyrgios sticks up a thumb. On the run, Humbert nails a forehand down the line. Ball kisses a millimetre of paint. Perfect.

But then he gets sloppy and is punished by another Humbert winner. The Frenchman has a chance here... 15-30.

Simona Halep saves the first. Two to go... but the Romanian drags a forehand into the tramlines and Ajla Tomljanovic takes an early break in the deciding set.

Now the Australian is firing, making Halep play shots she really doesn't want to.

Tomljanovic batters down a backhand winner, Halep goes long off the next and all of a sudden the world number 72 has three break points.

Tomljanovic gets the hold.

And Halep fires wide with a forehand off her first service point. 0-15.

Rattling through these games now. Humbert crashes out a hold to love, now he must break Kyrgios' hefty serve.

Sounds easier than it is. The Frenchman has not had a break point in this set. Yet. This would be the time to change that...

Brilliant. Superb hustle from Simona Halep. Ajla Tomljanovic thinks she has the point won with a delicate volley but the scuttling Halep reaches it and engineers a forehand winner beyond the Australian. Tomljanovic draws her opponent in with another drop shot off the next point and this time Halep cannot quite scoop it up and over. 40-30.

Nick Kyrgios isn't hanging around. As usual, he whips through his service game and holds to love.

The Aussie is one game away from levelling the match...

Cracking backhand winner from Ajla Tomljanovic to open the third set. She can't back it up, though, clipping the net tape with another and watching the ball drop agonisingly on her side. 15-15.