He may have waited until the third game to do it, but Nick Kyme did himself ? and his country ? proud last night.

Taking on the mighty Thierry Lincou, world champion and world number one, the Bermudian number one was feeling the pressure of living up to the thunderous reception he received on opening night of the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters.

Flag waving, feet stomping and wild applause ? all delivered from 600 partisan fans on their feet ? greeted Kyme as he stepped out and thanked him as he left, the latter particularly well deserved.

Kyme, just inside the world top 70 and only competing courtesy of a wildcard, was never expected to win the match but by getting to within a point of victory in the final game, he more than justified the overwhelming support he received.

Improving as the night went on, Kyme was noble in defeat, going down 11-3, 11-7, 13-11 in 35 minutes.

?That was amazing,? said Kyme in an interview constantly punctuated by congratulatory kisses, hugs and handshakes from the passing crowd. ?It was incredible to play in a game like that but I just wish I had managed to win that last game.

?I didn?t feel comfortable in the first game. I wasn?t playing well and I couldn?t pick the ball up properly.

?I don?t know if it was nerves or fear or what ? maybe a mixture of everything. I just couldn?t get my eye in and it was frustrating ? I was really angry coming off the court.?

Stomping off after the 11-3 reverse, Kyme received some calming words from club pro Patrick Foster and came out in the second game a new player, taking the ball earlier and being more aggressive.

This new style helped post points on the board for the 24-year-old but also brought out the best in his French opponent. Often running Kyme ragged, Lincou threw in head fakes, dummy swings and other impressive manoeuvres in his efforts to outfox his enthusiastic and athletic young adversary.

Kyme forced his way into the match a little more, going down 11-7 in the second.

But it was the third game when the local hero truly came into his own. Working Lincou hard and coming up with some impressive boasts and drop volleys, Kyme found himself ahead at 6-5 and 8-7 before saving a match point at 10-9.

Then Kyme won two in a row and was just a point away from winning the game 11-10. He even ?won? the rally with a drop in the right corner, but a let was ruled and Lincou won the next three points to claim the 13-11 win and a place in the second round.

?I was still struggling to see the ball properly in the second,? continued Kyme, whose defeat leaves Bermuda resident David Palmer as the new ?home? favourite. ?But by the end of the game I felt comfortable and felt I was more in the game.

?And in the third game I felt really good. I was winning points and felt I could take the game. It was pretty disappointing not to take it after getting a match ball but it is also good to be able to say I am disappointed not to have taken a game off the world number one.?

Lincou, a true gentleman on and off the court, was full of praise for Kyme, urging him to keep working hard in his quest to break into the world?s top 20.

?I had to fight and be focused, he made it hard for me,? said the Reunion Island-born star.

?He was a tough player and made me work very hard ? I had to talk to my mental coach to prepare for this game because I knew it would be hard playing the local favourite.?

In the second game of the evening session, Egyptian former world champion Amr Shabana outclassed Frenchman Renan Lavigne 11-7, 11-7, 11-8.