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Kyrgios to use Rafa rivalry as motivation for Open run
By Sam Phillips
A "desperate" Nick Kyrgios will use a potential fourth-round showdown with world No.1 Rafael Nadal as the motivational driving force behind a return to the second week of the Australian Open.
That's the view of Australian tennis icon John Newcombe, who believes Kyrgios "fancies his chances" against the Spanish superstar should they go head-to-head next week.
A fourth-round showdown with Rafael Nadal will provide motivation for Nick Kyrgios.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
"I think Nick will be desperate to get through to the fourth round so he can face Nadal," Newcombe said.
"He fancies his chances against him, too. He likes the way his game matches up against Rafa's and Rafa seems to have real problems returning Nick's serve.
"Every time they've played it's been close and going up against (Nadal) seems to bring the best out of Nick."
It's no secret Kyrgios and Nadal don't see eye-to-eye.
Kyrgios' win against the Spanish No.1 at Wimbledon in 2014 shocked the world and put the Australian on the map.
It also triggered a rivalry which morphed into a war of words in the last 12 months.
Nadal fired the first shot when he said the Australian lacked respect.
"I don’t think he’s a bad guy, not at all. I think he’s a good guy. But what he lacks is a little respect for the public, for his rival, and also for himself. I think he should improve that," Nadal said.
Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal don't see eye-to-eye.Credit: Getty Images
Kyrgios returned serve when he accused the Spanish superstar of being "super salty".
"He’s my polar opposite and he’s super salty. When he wins it’s fine, he will credit the opponent. But as soon as I beat him he has no respect for me, my fans or the game," Kyrgios said.
"And I’m like "what are you talking about?!"
And while that off-court rivalry makes their potential Melbourne Park clash tantalising, Kyrgios' 3-4 head-to-head record against Nadal suggests Newcombe is on the money about their on-court clashes.
Nick Kyrgios carries the majority of hopes for Australia's male contingent at the Australian Open.Credit: AAP
However, he doesn't believe it's just the favourable match-up which allows the controversial Australian to thrive against the Spanish star.
Newcombe says Kyrgios' best tennis is played when the pressure valve is released.
"I think it's got something to do with the freedom he has when he faces Rafa," the former world No.1 said.
"When you're up against a guy like that there's not as much pressure and that's when Nick is at his best.
Kyrgios kicks off his Australian Open campaign on Tuesday.Credit: AAP
"We tend to see his best tennis when he has a free swing and the expectations aren't there."
While public expectation will decrease should Kyrgios make it to the second week of play and line up against Nadal, the pressure will be on until that point.
The Australian No.2 is used to being the centre of attention but the abdominal injury which has kept Alex de Minaur out of his home slam has left Kyrgios as the nation's only realistic hope of seeing an Australian man as the last left standing since 1976.
That spotlight can occasionally bring the 24-year-old crashing down, though his infamous antics should be absent given the ATP-imposed $36,000 fine and 16-week suspended sentence from the Cincinnati Masters meltdown are still hanging over his head.
"Only he knows what he's going to do. The rest of us will have to wait and see," Newcombe said.
"But if he serves well, he's always going to be hard to beat.
"It just creates so many cheap points for him and it shortens points, games and matches for him as well.
"That helps Nick when he's playing best of five sets."
Kyrgios will today kick off his Australian Open campaign against unheralded Italian Lorenzo Sonego.