Nick Kyrgios ‘circus’ rolls into Wimbledon second round clash with Rafael Nadal

Nick Kyrgios has set the tone for a second round Wimbledon blockbuster with bitter rival Rafael Nadal by stating: “We have mutual respect — but that’s about it.”

Nick Kyrgios was at his entertaining best, and worst, in the win over Jordan Thompson on the second day of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

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Nick Kyrgios has defended unconventional “rope-a-dope” tactics after sweeping into a second-round Wimbledon showdown with Rafael Nadal.

Kyrgios was criticised for lack of application during the fourth set of a 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 7-6 (12-10), 0-6 6-1 win over Jordan Thompson, winning only five points in six games.

Nick Kyrgios was at his entertaining best, and worst, in the win over Jordan Thompson on the second day of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

Grilled about his fluctuating commitment, Kyrgios used a boxing analogy to justify his position.

“If a boxer puts his hands down in a fight, does that mean he’s not trying?” he retorted.

“Yes, no? (Does) it means he’s trying or not trying?

“Could be a tactic, couldn’t it?

“How did the tactic pay off today? Good question. Oh, this is fun.”

Nadal will chase revenge against Kyrgios on multiple fronts after demolishing Japan’s Yuichi Sugita 6-3 6-1 6-3.

Kyrgios beat the then world No 1 on centre court here in 2014 and irked the Spaniard with victory in Acapulco in March.

Aside from sharing a 3-3 record with the world No 2, Kyrgios blasted Nadal during a podcast in Rome in May, describing the French Open king as “super salty.”

Kyrgios also sledged Nadal’s uncle, Toni, labelling him an idiot.

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Kyrgios required mid-match treatment on his left leg against Thompson, revealing he had a sore hamstring.

“It’s sore, my friend. It’s very sore,” he said.

“The medical time-out was to loosen up my hamstring a little bit.

“It was a physical match. Especially on the grass, it was a little bit slower this year. There were a lot more rallies.

“I’m a physical specimen, so don’t worry about it.”

Kyrgios said part of his motivation to overcome Thompson was the lure of facing Nadal again.

Jordan Thompson argues with the umpire during his match against Nick Kyrgios. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

Nick Kyrgios argues with the umpire during his men's singles first round match against Jordan Thompson. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

“He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time. I go into that match as an unbelievable underdog,” he said.

“I know if I play the right type of tennis, I can have success against him.

“I have to come with the right attitude, I have to be willing to fight.

“If not, it’s going to be butter for him. He’s one of the best tennis players.

“I’m not going to think about it. I need to rest, recover, I have a day out, then I want to go out there and have some fun.”

(L-R) Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal are far from friends. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Asked about his relationship with Nadal, Kyrgios said: “Not sure that me and Rafa could go down to the Dog & Fox (a famous Wimbledon pub) and have a beer together. “I mean, we have a mutual respect, but that’s about it I think.”

Nadal signalled he was on high alert ahead of the pair’s seventh meeting.

“My thoughts are very clear, no?” he said.

“I play against a top talent player, very dangerous player when he wants to play tennis.

“Normally against the best players, he wants to play tennis. When that happens, he’s a very dangerous opponent.

“Of course, like second round is a super tough one. I know that. I need to be at my 100 per cent. I going to fight for it.”