Australian Open 2020: Rafael Nadal def Nick Kyrgios in incredible match
First, there was an emotional pre-match Kobe Bryant tribute. Then a first set 'meltdown'. Nick Kyrgios roared back, before his high-octane fourth-round clash with Rafael Nadal turned into a true rollercoaster ride - in which he earned the pride of a nation.
- The not-so-hidden instigator on Kyrgios-Nadal feud
- McEnroe rips Tennis Australia over 'crazy aunt' Court
Nick Kyrgios’ charade is over.
Defeated by world No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-3 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4) in an electrifying Australian Open fourth-rounder, Kyrgios’ claims to tennis apathy were exposed as a sham.
Once famously diffident, the Canberran’s passion and intensity shone beacon-like as he stretched reigning French and US Open champion Nadal for 3hrs,38mins over four gripping sets on Rod Laver Arena.
RELIVE ALL THE ACTION IN OUR BLOG AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
Watch over 50 sports LIVE on Kayo! Stream to your TV, mobile, tablet or computer. Just $25/month, cancel anytime. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
The last Australian men’s singles contender at this year’s tournament, Kyrgios soaked up Nadal’s heaviest blows – and kept on fronting up for more.
Rocked by Kyrgios’ tenacity, the 19-time grand slam champion was duly impressed.
“A very tough match. In the beginning, I was a little bit in control but against Nick you are never in control,” Nadal said, burying the hatchet with Kyrgios.
“What can I say about Nick? When he is playing like today with this positive attitude he gives a lot of positive things to our sport.
"He's one of the highest talents…honestly one of the highest talents we have on our tour and I like the Nick Kyrgios during the whole of this tournament.
“Nick has an amazing serve and he is able to hit the spots in the court. You don’t know what to expect.”
Spell-bound, a capacity crowd watched as Nadal and Kyrgios traded blows of outrageous quality and rapidity before the Spanish colossus advanced to his 41st grand slam quarter-final and 12th in Melbourne.
Nadal clouted 64 winners to Kyrgios’ 50 but was more measured with only 27 unforced errors to the Australian’s 43.
While Nadal maintains hopes of posting a record-equalling 20th major and a second Melbourne Park title, Kyrgios crowned his emergence from the Australian summer as a transformed character.
Inspired to perform to honour and assist bushfire victims - and also shattered by Kobe Bryant’s death - Kyrgios proved, when the mood strikes, he is an authentic threat.
While there were still flashes of volatility, including a smashed racquet and swearing, Kyrgios’ brilliance had Nadal at full-tilt.
And, even more important than flair, was a relentless desire to run and retrieve – a quality not always synonymous with the volatile right-hander.
Facing certain defeat as Nadal served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set, Kyrgios found another gear – and a cause – to draw level after the Spaniard succumbed to nerves with a double fault.
Charging late, Kyrgios could not sustain the effort as Nadal regrouped after a “scary game at 5-4” to edge into the last eight.
Kyrgios and Nadal settled in an electrifying battle of contrasting styles from the outset, trading sets.
Impossibly dramatic, as Kyrgios badgered umpire James Keovathong about the quality of lines-calling, the contest reached its crescendo in a titanic third-set tiebreak.
Kyrgios mangled a racquet, trailed 3-5, double-faulted with a 217km second serve and then watched as Nadal butchered a set point at 6-5 with a double fault.
Eventually, the pressure told on the Australian as his defence fractured with a rushed forehand error.
Faced with a mountainous task of overhauling the world champion, Kyrgios stumbled with a service break in the fourth game – and Nadal was away.
But, just as Kyrgios had an excuse to revert to type and fade away, he found a reason not to.
And, after a spicy relationship with Nadal, he won the respect of one of the sport’s greatest.