Nick Kyrgios mimics Rafael Nadal during Australian Open match
A potential fourth-round clash between rivals Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal just got a whole lot spicier after the Aussie roasted the world No.1 during his second round match. WATCH THE VIDEO.
Tennis
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Rafael Nadal was quick to dismiss Nick Kyrgios after the Aussie performed an on-court impression of the Spaniard on Melbourne Arena on Thursday night.
“I really don’t care, I am here to play tennis, Nadal said after his own second round victory.
“Honestly, I don’t care at all. If was funny, good. That’s it.”
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🤦â€â™‚ï¸(🎥@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/s9scAWS5sj
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) January 23, 2020
Simon (info - @BenRothenberg )(🎥@Eurosport_RU ) https://t.co/l6xIZtCJrO pic.twitter.com/lEbKvFxpVn
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) January 23, 2020
NK after that time violation 😆🤔 pic.twitter.com/gqnJW6Uhcs
— Tim Callanan (@MrTimCallanan) January 23, 2020
Earlier, Kyrgios had been hit with a time violation by the umpire during his four-set win over Gilles Simon and took exception, claiming he was being unfairly targeted because his service action is shorter and more straightforward than Nadal, who has always had a very drawn out service routine.
“That’s part of my motion,” he said of his own move that copped the warning.
“So I started my service motion.
“There wasn’t any extra-curricular activities I was doing before my serve to waste time.”
He responded by hitting an ace – followed by an impression of Nadal, right down to the wedgie pull.
It was later copied by Simon, who Kyrgios said may have delivered a more “accurate” depiction.
“I don’t wear underwear, so... Probably Gilles’ (was better),” he said.
Nadal is traditionally one of the slowest players on the tour, a fact not lost on Kyrgios.
Despite being penalised on Thursday, Kyrgios normally plays at a rapid pace.
It wasn’t the only drive by sledge for Nadal, with Simon also called for a time violation for his own Nadal impression.
Nadal and Kyrgios have a testy relationship.
On a podcast last year, Kyrgios called the Spaniard “salty”.
Despite the wild mid-match antics and wild exchange with his box, Kyrgios managed to secure a spot in the third round with 6-2 6-4 4-6 7-5 win over Simon.
“I definitely lost my way a little bit,” Kyrgios said post-match.
“He’s (Simon) a tough competitor. He knows how to win matches.
“I just tried to refocus. I could have gone to a very dark place in the fourth (set) but I somehow pulled it away.”
While the impression - Kyrgios mimicked Nadal’s famous service action mannerisms, tucking his hair and shorts in sequence – did not go down well with the Spaniard, Kyrgios may live to regret his actions sooner rather than later.
A win for both men in Saturday’s third round at the Australian Open will set the scene for a last 16 showdown, most likely on Monday. Nadal, who has 19 majors to Kyrgios’ none, currently leads their encounters 4-3.