World No1 Rafael Nadal booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a tightly contested and entertaining fourth-round encounter against Nick Kyrgios.
One of the most hyped matches of the tournament, it lived up to its billing as Nadal won 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, the same score as their last meeting at Wimbledon but much more watchable.
The pair have endured a fractious relationship, Kyrgios regularly accusing his rival of slow play and admitting to intentionally trying to hit the Spaniard at the net when at Wimbledon.
Today on Rod Laver Arena, there was no animosity as Kyrgios arrived on court to warm up in Kobe Bryant’s No8 LA Lakers jersey. And bar a solitary racket smash, there were none of the usual histrionics from Kyrgios either.
How much the emotion of the occasion and perhaps fatigue took its toll — Kyrgios came through in five sets against Karen Khachanov — remains to be seen.
But Nadal was quick to pay tribute to his opponent: “It seemed like in the beginning I was a little bit under control but, against Nick, you’re never under control. It’s so difficult to play him.
“When he is playing like today, he gives a lot of positive things to our sport so I encourage to him keep working like this as he is one of the best talents that we have on our tour.”
The contest appeared a little one-sided as Nadal went 6-3 up, but any suggestions he might run away with it were nullified as Kygrios broke in the second set, which he won 6-3. The Aussie found his opening service game under pressure in the third and again when 5-4 down but held as the set went to a tiebreak, which Nadal edged 8-6.
A break up in the fourth, Nadal served for the match at 5-4 only for a pumped-up Kyrgios to break back and force a tiebreak only to come off second best again.
Read More
Nadal now meets Dominic Thiem in what is his 41st Grand Slam quarter-final after the Austrian beat Gael Monfils in straight sets.
